PESHAWAR — Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is making a decisive push to bring artificial intelligence into the mainstream of its higher education system, with the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Mardan set to lead the charge.
Under a new provincial directive, UET Mardan’s Centre for AI has been named the central hub for all AI-related initiatives in KP. The university will coordinate training, research, and development efforts aimed at equipping both students and faculty with the skills to thrive in an AI-driven academic landscape.
Training for All, Fees Kept Low
The Higher Education Department has instructed universities to run specialized AI workshops, ensuring opportunities are open to both students and teaching staff. Institutions have also been told to keep fees for AI programs minimal so that cost doesn’t become a barrier to entry.
In addition to training, universities will be encouraged to develop their own AI tools and applications, a move that could foster innovation within the province’s academic circles.
A Strategy from the Top
This initiative stems from a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister KP and Minister for Higher Education, Archives, and Libraries, Meena Khan. The session, attended by UET Mardan Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Gul Muhammad Khan, Special Secretary Ghulam Saeed, and Advisor/Director General Dr. Shafiq Ur Rehman, laid out a roadmap to align KP’s higher education institutions with global standards.
Officials discussed both short-term implementation—such as launching AI programs by the next semester—and long-term goals, including positioning KP as a regional leader in AI-focused education.
Framework and Formal Agreement Coming Soon
The Centre for AI at UET Mardan has been tasked with drafting a complete adoption framework, which all provincial universities will follow. Faculty training camps are planned for the summer to prepare educators for the AI-integrated curriculum.
To formalize the plan, the Higher Education Department will sign an MoU with UET Mardan’s AI Centre, ensuring the initiative moves forward on schedule.
If executed effectively, the move could place KP among the first regions in Pakistan to make AI literacy a core element of its higher education policy—potentially giving its graduates a competitive edge in the job market.
