By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, will travel to Shanghai on July 16–17 to sign the agreement establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), making Pakistan one of its founding members, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

The visit comes at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

According to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, Dar will represent Pakistan at the signing ceremony for the establishment of WAICO on July 16 before attending the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance on July 17.

As part of the visit, Dar is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Wang Yi and meet several other foreign counterparts on the sidelines of the conference to discuss issues of mutual interest and strengthen diplomatic cooperation.

The Foreign Ministry said Dar will present Pakistan's vision for greater international collaboration on artificial intelligence, emphasizing the priorities of developing countries and the Global South.

He is expected to advocate for narrowing the global AI divide through equitable access to advanced technologies, expanded capacity-building initiatives, and stronger international partnerships to ensure that artificial intelligence contributes to sustainable development and shared prosperity.

The visit highlights Pakistan's growing engagement in global discussions on AI governance at a time when governments are seeking common frameworks to address the opportunities and risks posed by rapidly advancing artificial intelligence technologies.

Artificial intelligence has emerged as one of the defining technologies of the 21st century, transforming industries ranging from healthcare and education to manufacturing, finance, and national security. However, many developing countries have warned of a widening technological gap, arguing that unequal access to AI infrastructure, computing resources, and skilled talent could deepen global economic inequalities.

China has positioned itself as a leading advocate of international cooperation on AI governance through initiatives such as the annual World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai. The establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) is expected to provide a multilateral platform for member states to cooperate on AI policy, standards, innovation, capacity building, and responsible development, with Pakistan joining as one of its founding members.