Pakistan is set to become the first country to sign the Digital and AI Compact, according to state media, as IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja travels to South Korea for the Global AI and Digital Summit 2026. The announcement puts Pakistan at the front of a new international digital initiative, though the terms of what it will be signing have not been spelled out in the reports so far.

The summit is taking place in Seoul from October 19 to 22. It is hosted by the World Bank Group together with South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT and its Ministry of Finance and Economy, and is intended to bring together global leaders to explore how artificial intelligence and digital transformation can deliver practical development gains. The Associated Press of Pakistan reported that the minister will represent Pakistan at the summit and take part in the AI and Digital Ministerial Meeting, where discussions will focus on Pakistan’s priorities in artificial intelligence and digital inclusion.

Khawaja is also expected to present Pakistan’s future roadmap during a dedicated session on the Digital and AI Compact, outlining the country’s approach to advancing digital transformation and AI. Her schedule includes meetings with World Bank Vice President Ousmane Diagana, to discuss areas of mutual interest and cooperation, and with a Google vice president, to discuss digital technology and artificial intelligence. She will also share Pakistan’s perspective on expanding internet access and making sure digital services reach the public. According to reports, she has said the government will focus on implementation and execution, and that the country must embrace technology to move forward.

The “first country to sign” claim comes from Pakistani state media and was repeated by several outlets, so it should be read as the government’s own description rather than an independently verified milestone. What is clear is that Pakistan is positioning itself as an early adopter of the framework, which fits a pattern of recent efforts to build a profile in the technology sector.

That groundwork is real. Pakistan’s cabinet approved its first National AI Policy on July 30, 2025, and the IT minister has said the policy was prepared after wide consultation. The country has also built a set of digital regulations over the past few years, including the National Cyber Security Policy 2021, the Cloud First Policy 2022, the CERT Rules 2023, and sectoral rules such as the Critical Telecom Data and Infrastructure Security Regulation. In August, the government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Google to promote digital transformation, which includes expanding the Google Career Certificates programme, with a target of issuing 150,000 certificates this year, and cooperating on digital payments, e-commerce, and the competitiveness of Pakistan’s mobile app and gaming industry. The prime minister has linked such efforts to a goal of raising IT exports and the digital economy to $30 billion by 2030.

Against that background, signing early could bring benefits. Participation in an international compact can open the door to technical assistance, financing and partnerships, particularly with development institutions like the World Bank, and it gives a country a seat at the table when standards for AI governance, data and digital infrastructure are discussed. For a government that wants to attract technology investment and expand IT exports, being seen as a willing first mover has diplomatic and commercial value.

But the value of a compact depends on what it requires. The reports do not say whether the document sets binding commitments or is a statement of shared principles, what targets it contains for connectivity, skills or regulation, or what support participating countries will receive. Those details will determine whether signing is mainly symbolic or the start of concrete obligations and resources. Experts who follow digital policy often point out that such agreements are easier to sign than to implement, and that the harder work lies in funding, enforcement and coordination between federal and provincial bodies.

Digital inclusion, the theme at the centre of the minister’s visit, also raises domestic questions. Expanding internet access is a stated priority, yet connectivity has been an issue at home this month, with internet disruptions reported in parts of Peshawar after the emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was announced. Pakistan has also used temporary mobile internet restrictions during past security situations and protests, and the authorities have said they would consider such measures again if needed. Commitments on access and digital rights in any international framework will inevitably be measured against practice on the ground, and Pakistan will have to explain how the two fit together.

For now, the signing itself is the immediate milestone to watch. After the summit, attention will turn to what Pakistan has actually agreed to, how it will report progress, and whether the roadmap Khawaja presents includes measurable goals. If it does, the compact could become a useful reference for the country’s technology plans. If it does not, it risks being remembered mainly for the headline of being first.

Compiled by the Weekly PK Technology Desk.