Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has set a November deadline for ministries to finish all groundwork on the Shehbaz Alibaba AI projects, turning a set of agreements signed in China into a domestic delivery timetable.
Chairing a review meeting in Islamabad on Wednesday, the prime minister told ministries to complete every necessary step by next month and submit a progress report. The meeting reviewed AI and digitalisation in the economy and governance, and cooperation with Alibaba, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
“The secret to Pakistan’s development lies in artificial intelligence and digitalisation,” the PMO quoted him as saying.
Shehbaz Alibaba AI projects: what the deadline covers
The Shehbaz Alibaba AI projects span health, tax, energy, agriculture and exports. The prime minister directed that an AI-assisted cancer early-detection system be put in place at the earliest in collaboration with Alibaba. He also ordered a 15-day AI training programme for IT graduates, to run soon under the IT ministry’s Ignite programme with Alibaba.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) was directed to introduce an analytics system for monitoring the petroleum products supply chain, again with Alibaba. The Export Promotion Board was instructed to work with Alibaba to help raise Pakistan’s exports.
The prime minister said effective use of AI and digitalisation could improve trade, exports, farm productivity, ease of doing business and public services.
He welcomed Alibaba’s help for Pakistani farm exports to Chinese markets and cooperation on automation in agriculture.
Work already under way
Officials briefed the meeting on work already in progress under the strategic cooperation between Alibaba and the Pakistan government. AI-based models for agriculture are being developed, along with track-and-trace technology for tobacco and digital platforms to help export citrus fruits and olives.
A Pakistan pavilion now promotes Pakistani products on Alibaba’s platform, and digital verification of trade documents through Pakistan Single Window is operational.
A two-year Smeda-Alibaba programme will give small firms access to international markets, training and e-commerce opportunities.
The meeting also reviewed progress on an advanced data platform and a central data hub for the Federal Board of Revenue and Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited, and a proposed pilot project for AI-assisted cancer diagnosis. In the energy sector, Ogra is being given AI and business intelligence tools to analyse fuel supply chain data. Initiatives using digital technology and AI in higher education, railways, postal services and urban administration are in the final stages of completion, the statement added.
Why the deadline matters for Pakistani businesses
The deadline matters because it turns a diplomatic understanding into dated tasks. Each ministry must now show targets, timelines and monitoring for its part.
For exporters, the tests will be whether the Pakistan pavilion brings new buyers and Single Window verification cuts delays. For small firms, the test will be whether the two-year Smeda programme reaches businesses outside the big cities.
Feature Pakistan earlier reported on Pakistan’s major deals with Alibaba, on the Rs2.2 trillion SME financing target set for 2028 and on SME lending reaching Rs943 billion by June 2026. The November deadline sits between those two stories: financing sets the money, and the Alibaba programme sets the market access.
Background: the Hangzhou agreement
The prime minister recalled the memorandum of understanding signed with Alibaba at its Hangzhou headquarters during his China visit. The priority, he said, was full use of the partnership to give small firms global market access.
The wider package agreed during that visit to China, according to the PMO, included Urdu AI models and skills training for 500,000 people. It also included AI disease screening in major cities and at least 2,000 small firms onboarded to the Pakistan Pavilion.
Earlier this year, the prime minister announced a $1 billion AI investment plan for 2030. In July, Pakistan became a founding member of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation.
Federal ministers and senior officials attended the meeting.
The next check comes in November, when ministries must show whether these projects have moved from plans to delivery.
Frequently asked questions
What is the November deadline for the Alibaba AI projects?
Ministries must complete all necessary measures for the Alibaba-backed AI and digitalisation projects by November and submit a progress report to the prime minister.
Which projects are covered?
An AI cancer early-detection system, a 15-day AI training programme for IT graduates under Ignite, an Ogra analytics system for fuel supply chains, and export work via the Export Promotion Board and the Pakistan pavilion.
