Pakistan invites Meta to collaborate on AI ethics, digital safety and trade

Rafael Frankel, Director for Public Policy (South Asia) at Meta (center), photographed with Pakistan Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan at the Ministry of Commerce in Islamabad on October 29, 2025. (Commerce Ministry)
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Updated 29 October 2025
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Pakistan invites Meta to collaborate on AI ethics, digital safety and trade

  • The development comes during a meeting between the commerce minister and a top Meta official visiting Pakistan
  • Meta expresses interest in expanding collaboration in AI-driven innovation, SME support and digital safety initiatives

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday invited social media giant Meta to collaborate on artificial intelligence (AI) ethics, digital safety and e-commerce standards, said an official statement, as part of the government’s push to expand its digital economy and integrate AI governance into national trade policy.

The invitation came during a meeting between a Meta delegation, led by Rafael Frankel, the company’s Director for Public Policy (South Asia), and Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan in the federal capital.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has been expanding its footprint in South Asia through programs supporting small businesses and digital literacy.

“Pakistan’s digital economy is among the fastest-growing in South Asia, powered by a youthful population, growing connectivity and a strong IT talent base,” the minister said, according to the statement circulated after the meeting, adding the government was finalizing the National E-Commerce Policy to expand the market to $20 billion by 2030.

“We invite Meta to collaborate through the Ministry’s IT Sectoral Council on areas such as AI ethics, digital safety and e-commerce standards,” he added.

Khan said Pakistan’s IT and IT-enabled services exports rose 18% in the last fiscal year to $3.8 billion and had grown a further 21% year-on-year in the first quarter of FY2026.

He urged Meta to partner with Pakistan in youth-focused AI skilling programs and explore a Meta-Pakistan E-Commerce Accelerator Pilot to promote digital entrepreneurship.

The visiting Meta official commended Pakistan’s progress in digital transformation, according to the statement, saying the company was keen to expand cooperation in “AI-driven innovation, skills development and SME support.”

Both sides agreed to continue working closely to promote innovation, safe online practices and economic empowerment through technology.


Pakistan assures US of facilitating foreign investment, increasing business engagement

Updated 7 sec ago
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Pakistan assures US of facilitating foreign investment, increasing business engagement

  • Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb meets US deputy assistant secretary of South and Central Asian Affairs
  • Both sides discuss Pakistan’s progress in implementing reforms, avenues for increasing economic cooperation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to facilitating foreign investment and enhancing engagement with the American business community, the Finance Division said in a statement. 

The statement was issued after Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met Mark Pommersheim, the US deputy assistant secretary of the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs. Pommersheim called on the Pakistani finance minister along with US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker at the Finance Division. 

Both sides discussed Pakistan’s economic outlook, reform agenda and avenues for enhancing bilateral economic cooperation, the statement said. 

“The finance minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating foreign investment and maintaining regular engagement with the US business community, including the US Chamber of Commerce and the American Business Council,” the Finance Division said. 

Aurangzeb informed the US officials about the progress regarding Pakistan’s macroeconomic stabilization reforms. He shared that Pakistan’s fiscal deficit has declined in recent months while the country’s current account has improved due to strong remittance inflows and growth in IT exports.

The finance minister noted that reforms in Pakistan’s state-owned enterprises and “right-sizing” of the public sector are being accelerated to improve efficiency and reduce fiscal risks.

The Finance Division said Pommersheim acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts toward fiscal stabilization, welcoming improvement in key macroeconomic indicators. 

“He emphasized that the United States values a stable and prosperous Pakistan and noted that strengthening the investment climate remains a shared priority,” the statement said. 

“He observed that US businesses are closely watching reform progress and that improved policy consistency would further support commercial engagement.”

Pakistan has sought to re-energize economic diplomacy with Washington as it attempts to enhance its exports, attract foreign investment and stabilize its economy under an International Monetary Fund-backed reform program.

Relations between Pakistan and the US have improved significantly under President Trump’s administration. In July 2025, the two countries agreed to a bilateral trade deal that included reciprocal tariff reductions. 

Since 2025, the two sides have increased diplomatic contacts, including meetings between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s military leadership and US officials, alongside discussions on trade, minerals, security cooperation and regional stability.