Pakistan to Launch “AI Regulatory Sandboxes” for Safe Innovation

Pakistan’s government is launching AI regulatory sandboxes—controlled testing areas where companies can safely experiment with artificial intelligence (AI). The goal is to support at least 50 businesses by 2027, giving them room to innovate without worrying about breaking rules.

These sandboxes will be run by dedicated Centres of Excellence, offering flexible regulatory guidance and oversight.

To support this, the government is building a national AI compute grid using High-Performance Computing (HPC) centres with advanced hardware. Industry-led data centres will contribute resources, granting access to over 100 universities for training AI models, processing big data, and conducting advanced research.

The plan also includes creating national and provincial AI data repositories—central hubs for high-quality data that industries and researchers can use.

In addition, AI hubs will be set up across major cities to connect universities with industry, support AI research, and help turn ideas into real products.

The policy encourages use of cloud services and open-source AI platforms, aiming to co-develop around 50 new AI models each year, in partnership with international initiatives.

By investing in technology, data infrastructure, and collaborative ecosystems, Pakistan is positioning itself to become a leader in AI innovation.