At a time when Artificial Intelligence and Robotics are transforming economies, industries, security paradigms, and governance systems globally, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has appointed Rector NUST Dr Muhammad Zahid Latif as the National Chair on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. This appointment marks a significant milestone in fostering strategic national initiatives to harness these transformative technologies. Based at National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) Islamabad campus, the newly appointed National Chair will work alongside a panel of experts to serve as a premier platform for policy direction, strategic alignment, governance structures, and comprehensive assessment of Pakistan's AI and Robotics ecosystem. The initiative particularly focuses on HEC-supported national centers such as the National Centre of Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) and the National Centre of Robotics and Automation (NCRA), according to a press release from Friday.
The appointment underscores NUST’s growing stature as a leading hub for academic excellence, cutting-edge research, and technological innovation in Pakistan. Latif expressed his appreciation to HEC leadership for honoring NUST with this important national mandate, emphasizing that the initiative is not only a recognition of NUST's contributions but also an opportunity to build long-term strategic coherence in emerging technologies. "This initiative is pivotal for fostering meaningful collaboration between academia, industry, government, and innovators," Dr. Latif stated.
"As part of this effort, we aim to foster precisely that synergy by identifying structural gaps, systemic inefficiencies, and operational challenges impacting the sustainability and effectiveness of Pakistan's AI and Robotics ecosystem." Through benchmarking against international best practices, the initiative seeks to develop an integrated national framework capable of ensuring coherence, strategic alignment, and coordinated progress across institutions and stakeholders. The National Chair will also recommend transformative national pathways and implementation approaches that can accelerate Pakistan’s emergence as a competitive knowledge economy driven by innovation, intelligent systems, and advanced automation. This appointment reflects HEC's confidence in Dr. Latif's visionary leadership and underscores NUST's commitment to advancing AI and Robotics research and development in the country.
As Pakistan embarks on its journey towards becoming a leader in these transformative fields, this initiative promises to play a crucial role in shaping the nation’s future.
