The National School of Public Policy (NSPP), Lahore successfully hosted the 3rd Public Policy Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Public Policy and Governance on 25–26 August 2025. The two-day event brought together policymakers, researchers, academics, and practitioners to deliberate on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in shaping Pakistan’s governance landscape.

The conference revolved around six key themes: AI and Socio-Economic Challenges, AI and Environmental Sustainability, AI in Public Sector Transformation, AI and Human Rights, Establishment of AI Valley, and AI and National Security Challenges.

Professor Dr. Syed Waqar ul Qounain Jaffry, Director, National Centre of Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) and Chairman, Department of Information Technology, University of the Punjab, participated as an invited discussant in the panel on AI and National Security Challenges.

During the panel and in his media interactions, Prof. Jaffry emphasized the critical role of AI in Pakistan’s counter-terrorism strategy, particularly through the use of surveillance, profiling, and predictive analytics. He highlighted how AI-powered tools are being globally deployed to enhance situational awareness, detect threats in real time, and support rapid response capabilities.

He appreciated the papers presented under the theme, noting their timely relevance in the context of the post-2021 resurgence of terrorism in Pakistan, especially in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He pointed out that the research offers comparative international insights, draws on Pakistan-specific case studies such as Safe City projects, and provides policy-oriented recommendations while also addressing ethical, legal, and civil liberty concerns.

At the same time, Prof. Jaffry acknowledged the need for deeper empirical research on Pakistan’s context, inclusion of local data-driven studies, and development of a robust AI legal and ethical framework aligned with international best practices. He encouraged scholars and practitioners to work on ethical AI models, localized datasets, and culturally aware AI training systems to ensure accuracy, fairness, and accountability in AI-based counter-terrorism applications.

He concluded that AI offers Pakistan a transformative opportunity in national security and governance, but its success will depend on responsible deployment, legal safeguards, and public trust.

The conference reaffirmed NSPP’s commitment to creating platforms for policy dialogue on emerging technologies and their integration into governance for sustainable national development.