The federal government has announced plans to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) education at the primary school level, aiming to build digital competencies among children from an early age. This development was shared by Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima, during a meeting of the Senate IT Committee chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan.
Minister Shaza Fatima explained that the initiative aligns with the government’s broader strategy to revise the national curriculum. A special committee, established by the Prime Minister, is tasked with integrating IT education across all schools. She further emphasized that universities should be held accountable if their IT graduates fail to secure employment, suggesting that institutions with poor job placement records could face penalties or reduced funding from the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
Lawmakers at the session raised concerns about the utilization of funds allocated under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). Senator Afnan Ullah pointed out that the IT Ministry’s funding was reduced from Rs. 21 billion last year to Rs. 16 billion this year. Minister Fatima responded that the decrease was part of a broader cut in PSDP allocations.
The meeting also featured a contentious discussion on the reappointment of the Director General of International Coordination. The committee chair questioned the rationale behind rehiring the same person after the post had been publicly advertised. Minister Fatima defended the move, stating that the selection process was transparent and merit-based.
Regarding public internet services, the minister clarified that Islamabad currently lacks a dedicated public Wi-Fi project. However, she noted that underground fiber-optic cables are being installed around Parliament, and that internet access will soon be expanded to schools, hospitals, police stations, parks, and metro stations as part of the Smart Islamabad initiative.
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