Pakistan becomes founding member of World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation
Pakistan on Thursday became a founding member of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO) after Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar signed the agreement establishing the forum in Shanghai, China, the Foreign Office (FO) said. “Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar signed the agreement on the establishment of the WAICO on behalf of Pakistan
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar (L) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R), during a meeting on July 16. 2026. —Photo courtesy @@ForeignOfficePk/X Chinese officials receive Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar upon his arrival in Shanghai, China on July 16. — Mofa/X Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq departs from Islamabad for Shanghai, China, on a two-day visit. —Photo courtesy @@ForeignOfficePk/X Listen to article 1x 1.2x 1.5x comments Join our Whatsapp Channel Add Dawn as a trusted source Pakistan on Thursday became a founding member of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO) after Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar signed the agreement establishing the forum in Shanghai, China, the Foreign Office (FO) said.
“Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar signed the agreement on the establishment of the WAICO on behalf of Pakistan at the signing ceremony held today in Shanghai, China,” the FO said in a post on X.
As a founding member of WAICO, Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to advancing international cooperation in the area of artificial intelligence, especially from the perspective of the Global South, it added.
“Pakistan looks forward to working closely with fellow WAICO member states in efforts to help bridge the global AI divide and to promote equitable access to AI to advance development for all,” the FO added.
Earlier in the day, FM Dar arrived in China to sign the agreement on behalf of Pakistan. China had proposed the creation of WAICO last year for AI governance.
In an earlier statement, the FO said that FM Dar would also participate in the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026 during the visit and engage with other leaders to advance international AI cooperation and promote inclusive, equitable AI governance.
He was also supposed to hold a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart, as well as meetings with other officials to discuss matters of mutual interest during the China trip.
During the Shanghai visit, FM Dar also held a bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the margins of World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), the FO said.
“The two leaders reviewed the broad canvas of Pakistan-China bilateral relations and reaffirmed their shared commitment to further deepening the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership,” it added.
The FO said that during the meeting, the leaders underscored the importance of advancing high-quality development under CPEC 2.0 and enhancing collaboration in trade, investment, science and technology, the digital economy, and artificial intelligence.
“The two sides also exchanged views on the latest regional and global developments and reaffirmed their resolve to maintain close coordination on issues of mutual interest.”
The FO further said that the meeting further reinforced Pakistan-China strategic cooperation and reflected the two countries’ shared commitment to innovation-driven development and emerging technologies.
Earlier today, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reached China’s Shanghai on two-day visit to sign an agreement for Pakistan to join WAICO as a founding member, the FO said.
China proposed the creation of WAICO last year for AI governance.
Upon his arrival in China, Dar was received by Shanghai Vice Mayor Wu Wei, Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires to China Aizaz Khan and Consul General of Pakistan in Shanghai Shahzad Ahmad Khan, the FO said on X.
It added that apart from attending the signing ceremony of WAICO, Dar will also participate in the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026 during the visit and engage with other leaders to advance international AI cooperation and promote inclusive, equitable AI governance.
Last July, opening WAIC in Shanghai, Chinese Premier Li Qiang emphasised the need for governance and open-source development, announcing the establishment of a Chinese-led body for international AI cooperation.
During a four-day visit to China by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in May this year, Pakistan expressed its support for “China’s initiative of establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation, believing that this represents a concrete step toward promoting the development of artificial intelligence for good and for all”.
Islamabad pledged to work with Beijing to “advance global governance and international cooperation” on AI.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to outline an ambitious vision for China’s role in global AI governance at WAIC on Friday, as Huawei showcases its most advanced AI computing cluster yet in a sign of Beijing’s drive to build a domestic alternative to US technology.
