The inauguration of the Artificial Intelligence 101 module at the Civil Services Academy (CSA) by Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja marks an important step in Pakistan’s journey towards becoming a truly digital nation. At a time when artificial intelligence is reshaping governance systems, economies and societies across the world, embedding AI education within the country’s premier civil service training institution reflects both foresight and urgency.
Civil servants form the backbone of public administration. Their understanding of emerging technologies directly influences how policies are designed, implemented and evaluated. By introducing a structured AI module for probationary officers, the government has signaled that digital literacy is no longer optional but a core competency for future leadership. The diversity of the Special CSS Batch, comprising officers from Balochistan and Sindh, also underscores the importance of ensuring that technological capacity-building reaches all regions and contributes to more balanced national development.
The AI manual, developed jointly by the Ministry of IT & Telecom, the Planning Commission, CSA and atom camp, is a notable example of effective public–private collaboration. Such partnerships are essential in fast-evolving fields like artificial intelligence, where private-sector expertise can complement institutional knowledge and policy direction. More importantly, the initiative aligns closely with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Digital Nation Vision and the Digital Nation Pakistan Act, which provides the legislative backbone for reforms across the digital economy, digital society and digital governance.
Crucially, the Minister’s emphasis on the Digital Nation Pakistan Act as a governance reform framework rather than a mere technology document reflects a mature understanding of digital transformation. Technology alone........

© The Patriot