Pakistani tech entrepreneur Mehwish Salman Ali showcased AI Innovation on a global stage at the International Digital Cooperation Forum (IDCF) in Jordan. She highlighted the country’s rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), aiming to attract investors and boost foreign direct investment (FDI), particularly from the Middle East. Her efforts reflect Pakistan’s growing role in AI-driven technological progress and its potential as a key player in the global digital economy.
From Genetics to Tech Entrepreneurship
Born and raised in Karachi, Ali earned a genetics degree from the University of Karachi in 2007. Due to limited job prospects in her field, she pivoted to Pakistan’s IT sector in 2008. After gaining four years of experience, she relocated to Dubai in 2012, where she launched 3wOgle Group of Companies, specializing in web-based IT solutions.
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Ali has remained engaged in Pakistan, founding the country’s first woman-led, solar-powered, quantum-encrypted data center, Data Vault, specializing in autonomous AI systems.
Advocating for “Borderless Technology” at IDCF
Ali attended the IDCF event in Jordan alongside Pakistan’s Minister for IT, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, where she proposed borderless technology as a key concept in AI development.
“When it comes to the AI space, everything is broad spectrum. When we work toward borderless technology, that’s what can bridge the gap between us and the investors,” she told Arab News.
The Economic Impact of AI: Pakistan’s Role
AI is projected to contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, surpassing the combined output of China and India. However, Pakistan’s goal of raising $20 billion from AI remains a fraction of this potential.
To expand AI’s economic impact, Ali emphasized the need for AI-friendly policies to attract investors and boost Pakistan’s IT sector.
“It was a very big market to project what Pakistan is doing in the AI space and to invite investors into our country and to basically pave ways for foreign direct investment as well,” she said.
She believes that IT and AI are crucial to achieving Pakistan’s target of becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2035.
AI Investment in the Middle East and Pakistan’s Potential
Ali spent time in Riyadh in 2022, observing the Middle East’s rapid AI expansion. She noted that countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar are investing billions of dollars in AI and need quality solutions.
However, she pointed out that Pakistani startups need to scale up their vision when seeking investments.
“When startups from Pakistan go [to the Middle East] and pitch their ideas, they are asking [for] very small amounts. They are asking for $100,000 or $200,000 [even when] they want to invest in a bigger vision.”
Forbes Technology Council and AI Innovation Lab in Pakistan
Recently, Ali was inducted as an official member of the Forbes Technology Council, making her the only Pakistani woman among four members.
She also announced the launch of an AI innovation lab in Pakistan, aiming to become a center of excellence for AI development.
“We are in talks with a few people and a few investors who are going to help in achieving that dream,” she shared.
Final Verdict
With her efforts in AI innovation, cross-border technology advocacy, and investment facilitation, Mehwish Salman Ali is positioning Pakistan as a rising player in the global AI industry. Her work could bridge the gap between Pakistani tech startups and the massive AI investments in the Middle East.
