Pakistan’s National Assembly has become the country’s first AI-enabled assembly after Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq formally launched the AI Parliament module and AI-enabled Speaker’s Office during a soft launch ceremony held at Parliament House.
The initiative was developed by the National Information Technology Board and aims to transform parliamentary operations through artificial intelligence, paperless governance, and secure digital systems.
Addressing the ceremony, Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had initiated a nationwide digitalisation drive immediately after assuming office, resulting in ministries moving toward paperless operations.
She said the National Assembly had already introduced the e-Office system under the leadership of Ayaz Sadiq and was now taking another step by adopting artificial intelligence.
Shaza Fatima added that Pakistan’s Parliament was also the first parliament to establish an SDG Secretariat and had already shifted the National Assembly to green energy.
She said the parliamentary system generated excessive paper waste as documents continued to be printed regardless of lawmakers’ attendance.
The minister acknowledged that transitioning from one system to another could create initial difficulties for lawmakers, but said digitisation would ultimately improve transparency and efficiency in parliamentary affairs.
She praised the efforts of the NITB team and CEO NITB Faisal Iqbal Ratyal for successfully implementing the project.
Shaza Fatima added that AI modules would eventually be expanded to all members of the National Assembly.
Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said many people from older generations remained hesitant in using technology, but modern digital tools made parliamentary work easier and more efficient.
He noted that the National Assembly consumed large amounts of paper every year, especially during the budget session when heavy printed copies were distributed among lawmakers.
He said efforts were underway to make future budgets paperless and provide members with budget documents through USB devices.
The Speaker added that the AI assistant would improve the quality of parliamentary research and debates, while work on establishing the National Assembly’s own AI data center would begin in July after funds were allocated in the upcoming budget.
Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on IT Syed Amin Ul Haque described the launch as a historic moment in Pakistan’s parliamentary history, saying the National Assembly had become the first assembly in the country to adopt artificial intelligence.
He said all parliamentarians would benefit from the initiative and stressed the need to establish a dedicated AI data center for Parliament.
He also appreciated the Ministry of IT for promoting digital governance and highlighted the Beep secure communication application as another major initiative enabling safe communication among lawmakers.
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