Senator Anusha Rehman, speaking for Pakistan at the launch of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance under United Nations auspices, called for the initiative to be a hands-on tool that closes knowledge and capacity gaps for developing countries. She urged the Dialogue to offer tailored policy advice, practical training and open access resources so nations can adopt AI in safe and inclusive ways.
Rehman stressed that any global approach must deliver a comprehensive framework ensuring AI systems are safe, secure and trustworthy, fully aligned with international human rights law and the Sustainable Development Goals. She said that clear standards and cooperative oversight are essential to build public confidence in AI technologies across diverse regions.
The senator highlighted the need to promote equity in AI innovation by enabling technology transfer, expanding affordable access to infrastructure and making quality datasets and critical data available to developing nations. To sustain these efforts, she proposed the creation of a United Nations Artificial Intelligence Fund to secure predictable financing and strengthen capacity-building tailored to low- and middle-income countries.
Emphasizing representation, Rehman urged that developing countries be equitably included in the Dialogue’s panels and decision-making processes so regional realities shape outcomes. She warned that protecting citizens — especially children, youth and the elderly — must remain central, with robust privacy safeguards, protections for personal freedoms and public education on deepfakes, misinformation and data misuse.
Noting Pakistan’s domestic progress, Senator Rehman pointed to the National Artificial Intelligence Policy 2025 as a national roadmap to harness AI for inclusive and sustainable growth. The policy prioritizes investment in human capital and infrastructure while strengthening data protection and regulatory frameworks to enable safe adaptation of AI technologies across sectors.
Artificial Intelligence must become a driver of common public good and shared prosperity, Senator Anusha Rehman affirmed, adding that Pakistan will continue to work constructively with the United Nations, its agencies and global partners to promote responsible and equitable AI Governance.
