ISLAMABAD: A group of Pakistani information technology professionals are participating in an international conference focusing on cutting-edge advancements in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), said Pakistan’s diplomatic mission in the kingdom on Tuesday, where they will exchange ideas with other experts.

The Global AI Summit, which is taking place in Riyadh from September 10 to 12, comes at a time when Pakistan is making efforts to boost its exports, particularly in the field of IT, and attract foreign investment to cut its reliance on foreign debt to support its $350 billion fragile economy.

Last month, Pakistan held its own IT and telecom festival featuring over 750 local and global companies as well as foreign delegates from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and 15 other countries.

This is the third edition of the Global AI Summit, which will cover key topics in the field of AI, including innovation and industry trends to shape a brighter future and cultivate an enabling environment for technology experts.

“Excited for @globalaisummit in Riyadh #GAIN 2024, shaping the future of AI with top [global] experts,” the Pakistan embassy in Saudi Arabia said on X. “Proud to see [Pakistani] IT pros like Mr. Yasar Ayaz and Mr. Shoaib Ur Rehman sharing insights on “Inclusive Tech Solutions: Bridging Gaps and Empowering Diverse Communities” today.”

Ayaz and Rehman are recognized for their expertise in the fields of information technology and cyber security. They have both made significant contributions to Pakistan’s IT sector and have been involved in initiatives to promote IT education, awareness and digital innovation.

A day earlier, a memorandum of understanding was also signed between the United States-based DS Technology Services and Zeki Expert Solutions from Islamabad at the Pakistan embassy.

Last May, Pakistan’s State Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima told a tech event the government had set a target of $25 billion for IT exports. Pakistan has also established four new special technology zones that can house up to 50,000 professionals, with an annual export potential of $350 million.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has repatriated more than 713,000 Afghan nationals residing in the country illegally since it launched a deportation drive last year that drew criticism from international rights organizations, state-run media reported on Tuesday.
Last November, Pakistan announced it would deport “illegal immigrants” following a spike in suicide bombings that it blamed on Afghan nationals, though no evidence was provided to support this claim. Pakistani officials also alleged that Afghan citizens were involved in smuggling and other crimes in the country.
The cash-strapped government, grappling with record inflation and a tough International Monetary Fund bailout program last year, also maintained that undocumented migrants had drained its resources for decades.
“According to latest statistics, the total number of illegal Afghan nationals who were repatriated till yesterday [Monday] has reached more than 713,000,” Radio Pakistan reported. “The process of repatriation of the illegal Afghan nationals to their homeland is underway in a dignified manner.”
It added that 71,193 Afghan nationals had been deported from Pakistan between August 17 and September 9.
Until the government initiated the expulsion drive last year, Pakistan was home to over four million Afghan migrants and refugees, of which around 1.7 million were undocumented, as per government figures.
Afghans make up the largest portion of migrants, many of whom came after the Taliban took over Kabul in 2021, but a large number have been present since the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
Islamabad insists the deportation drive is not aimed specifically at Afghans but at all those living illegally in Pakistan.
International rights organizations have called on Pakistan to review its decision, warning that Afghan nationals deported may suffer from poverty and could face retaliation at the hands of the Afghan Taliban in their homeland.