Pakistan has joined the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation as one of its 29 founding members, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar signing the establishment agreement in Shanghai on July 16 on the sidelines of the World AI Conference (Dawn; Geo News; Pakistan Today).
The World AI Conference was inaugurated by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has championed WAICO as a platform for multilateral AI governance under China’s lead — positioning it as an alternative to Western-led AI governance frameworks including those proposed by the OECD and the G7.
Pakistan said its accession reflects its commitment to “bridging the digital divide” and advancing AI capacity building in the Global South. The Foreign Office said Pakistan intends to work with WAICO members to expand equitable access to AI technologies and support their use for development goals.
What WAICO is
WAICO, proposed by China at last year’s WAIC, is designed as an international platform for cooperation on AI governance, capacity building and standards. China has framed it as giving voice to developing countries in setting global rules for AI — a direct contrast to G7 and EU frameworks that have dominated international AI policy discussions.
Dar’s attendance at the signing ceremony, which was preceded by a presidential banquet hosted by Xi Jinping, signals Pakistan’s alignment with China’s vision of a multilateral AI governance framework outside Western-led institutions. Pakistan’s participation also deepens the digital and technology cooperation dimension of CPEC 2.0, with the two sides reaffirming advancement in science, technology and digital economy cooperation during Dar’s visit.
Context
Twenty-nine countries signed the WAICO establishment agreement in Shanghai, representing a significant first cohort for the new body. The organisation does not yet have a headquarters, budget or enforcement mechanism — the founding ceremony marks the diplomatic launch, with institutional build-out to follow. Pakistan’s founding membership gives it a seat at the table as those decisions are made.
