ISLAMABAD, June 4: China’s recently unveiled AI+ Education Action Plan is drawing attention in Pakistan as policymakers and education experts look for ways to prepare the workforce for a rapidly changing digital economy under the National AI Policy 2025.
The Chinese initiative, announced in April 2026, aims to integrate artificial intelligence across all levels of education, from primary schools and universities to vocational training and lifelong learning. Experts say the approach offers valuable insights for Pakistan as it seeks to expand AI literacy and develop a skilled workforce capable of meeting future technological demands.
Jointly issued by five Chinese government departments, the plan seeks to establish a comprehensive AI literacy system by 2030. According to Chinese state media, the country’s education system serves approximately 280 million students across nearly 440,000 schools.
China has already introduced measurable AI education targets. Data from the Beijing Municipal Education Commission shows that primary and secondary school students complete at least eight hours of AI-related coursework annually, while AI adoption across schools in Beijing reached 87.7 percent by the end of 2025.
The plan also includes integrating AI knowledge into teacher certification systems, creating a national educational intelligent computing platform and strengthening collaboration between educational institutions and industry.
Pakistan faces AI skills challenge
The developments come as Pakistan begins implementing its National AI Policy 2025, which sets ambitious targets for workforce development and digital skills training.
The policy aims to train 200,000 people annually, prepare 10,000 trainers by 2027 and provide 20,000 AI-related internships each year. It also seeks to upskill one million new and existing IT graduates in artificial intelligence and related technologies.
Despite these goals, the policy notes that fewer than 10 percent of Pakistan’s workforce currently possesses AI-related skills.
The challenge is becoming increasingly important as technological change accelerates. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 projects that 39 percent of workers’ core skills will change by 2030, increasing demand for AI literacy and digital competencies.
Experts call for practical implementation
Speaking to Wealth Pakistan, education and technology experts emphasized the need to translate policy goals into practical reforms.
Safa Shoaib, CEO of The Holistic EDvisor, said AI tools are already being used by both teachers and students, making AI literacy an essential skill across educational institutions.
She stressed the importance of ensuring equitable access to AI education and teacher training, citing UNESCO’s AI Competency Framework as a useful reference for policymakers.
Khet Kumar, AI Education Consultant at the Punjab Education, Curriculum, Training and Assessment Authority (PECTAA), said China’s strategy demonstrates how AI can be integrated throughout the education system to support workforce readiness and innovation.
He noted that teacher preparedness remains central to successful implementation and argued that AI education should be accessible across both public and private institutions.
Khubaib Zafar, an EdTech Consultant at NextGen Pedagogues, said Pakistan should focus on practical implementation measures, including national AI learning hubs, mobile-first educational content and stronger industry participation in training programmes.
He also proposed linking AI trainer certification to vocational training systems and expanding internship opportunities through partnerships with software companies.
Experts believe that while Pakistan cannot replicate China’s model directly, lessons from curriculum development, teacher training, industry collaboration and technology access could help strengthen the country’s efforts to build an AI-ready workforce.
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