Thousands of young minds are enhancing their skills and reshaping their thoughts at the Presidential Initiative for Artificial Intelligence and Computing (PIAIC Center), a nationwide endeavor also introduced by the Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) of the University of Management and Technology in Lahore to meet market demands, while selling abilities of the talented young people worldwide.
The Presidential Initiative for Artificial Intelligence and Computing (PIAIC) is a nationwide endeavor, spanning major cities such as Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar, and Faisalabad. Serving as the Head Office for Punjab, the University of Management and Technology plays an active leadership role in the program. Professor Abid Hussain Khan Shirwani, co-founder, and head of the university’s Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization, is the chief adviser of the initiative for the Punjab region.
“I am happy to announce that the Presidential Initiative for Artificial Intelligence and Computing (PIAIC), as the future-oriented program, is open to all, and there’s no specific educational requirement or age limit to enroll,” Professor Abid Shirwani said while talking to the Risala Today. “I believe that this is a challenge for those who have courage and will to do it,” he said, adding that they’re transforming ‘raw minds’ into ‘AI minds’, educating young brains with the skills, necessary in an era of rapid transformation driven by technology, global interconnectedness, and shifting societal paradigms.
He said that they’re adopting Agentic AI programs that go beyond answering prompts; they can set goals, break down complex tasks, access tools, and execute workflows autonomously with minimal human intervention. “As the program receives updates, it gets updated accordingly,” he explained. To a question, he said that every student pays 1,500 rupees per month – a token of their interest. Also, he said that five modules of the programs were designed so that the students can start earning after completing two to three modules.
Professor Abid Shirwani said that the very mission of the Presidential Initiative for Artificial Intelligence and Computing was to reshape Pakistan by revolutionizing education, research, and business with cutting-edge technology. He said that tech experts termed this approach as the fourth industrial revolution. “We want Pakistan to be a global hub for the Artificial Intelligence, data science, cloud native computing, edge computing, Block-chain, and the augmented reality,” he noted. To another question, he said that the initiative has four programs – the Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Native and Mobile Web, Block-chain, and internet of things.
Sharing details, he said that the one-year Artificial Intelligence program was designed for beginners, aiming to get the nation ready for the transformed era. He said that the program structure includes a four-quarter AI program, covering Data Science, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning. “We’re producing leaders who’ll contribute positively. One student here is equal to a thousand people. We’re telling the world that we’re an intelligent nation, and we can create miracles. This isn’t just an initiative – it’s a movement sweeping Pakistan,” Professor Abid Shirwani said.
“We need a powerful movement; as we want to produce one million AI minds annually,” he said. He said that many students who enrolled at the center were now serving as instructors, earning thousands of dollars – not just in Pakistan, but abroad too. About the students, he said that they’re learning about the Artificial Intelligence and feeling a bigger impact than their friends, enrolled in the computer science. After this program, he said that the students won’t need a degree or certificate because they’re getting skills. He said that they’re trying to ink an agreement with some Japanese companies to test PIAIC students.
“You can take our students with you if they proved their skill,” he told the foreign delegates. “I am hundred percent sure that our students would be hired on handsome salaries,” he said. “Our vision is different, beyond our typical education system,” he said. “Our government has different priorities; we’re not equipping young people with advanced tech and education,” he pointed out. “We can do much more, but it requires will,” he said, adding that they’re spreading this program, empowering the generations for a brighter, but a skilled future.
