The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has made a pivotal decision by appointing Dr. Muhammad Zahid Latif, Rector of NUST, as the National Chair on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics.
This appointment empowers NUST to lead a strategic national initiative in two of the most transformative fields worldwide.
Located at the Islamabad campus of the National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), the National Chair, along with a panel of experts, will function as a premier national platform for providing policy direction, ensuring strategic alignment, establishing governance structures, and conducting a thorough assessment of the national AI and Robotics ecosystem.
This is particularly relevant to HEC-supported national centers, such as the National Centre of Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) and the National Centre of Robotics and Automation (NCRA), as stated in a press release on Friday.
This appointment signifies the trust placed in the visionary leadership of the Rector NUST by HEC and highlights the university’s increasing prominence as a center of academic excellence, advanced research, and technological innovation in Pakistan.
The Rector expressed gratitude to the HEC leadership for bestowing this major national mandate upon NUST, stating, “This initiative not only acknowledges NUST’s contributions to academia and research but also represents a collective national opportunity to establish long-term strategic coherence in emerging technologies. The success of Pakistan’s journey in AI and Robotics depends on effective collaboration among academia, industry, government, and innovators. Through this initiative, we aim to cultivate that synergy.”
Furthermore, the National Chair will spearhead efforts to pinpoint structural deficiencies, systemic inefficiencies, and operational challenges that affect the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of the national AI and Robotics ecosystem.
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