UEL expert advises Pakistan PM on AI transformation
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Published
06 February 2026
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Artificial Intelligence expertise from the University of East London (UEL) has helped inform national policy discussions with the Prime Minister of Pakistan during a high-level engagement in London focused on AI-led transformation.
Dr Mustansar Ali Ghazanfar, Associate Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Programme Director for Artificial Intelligence at UEL, met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to outline how strategic investment in AI could accelerate economic growth and modernise national systems. He presented analysis indicating that a £100 million investment in AI could unlock between £10-20 billion for Pakistan’s economy, framing AI as an immediate economic and governance priority rather than a future ambition.
The meeting explored how sustained engagement between academic expertise and government leadership could support Pakistan’s AI-driven national priorities - from modernising governance and strengthening the digital and freelance economy to transforming healthcare, education and agricultural productivity at scale.
Dr Ghazanfar said,
AI is no longer a future ambition for nations - it is a present-day economic and governance imperative. The opportunity lies not just in strategy, but in structured implementation that delivers measurable impact at national scale. It was a privilege to contribute to this discussion and to support a vision focused on inclusive growth, public-sector innovation and long-term transformation.”
The meeting brought together academics from leading global institutions, including the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge and Stanford University, underscoring the significance of the dialogue and the calibre of expertise involved.
For UEL, the engagement marks an important moment in the University’s expanding international footprint, demonstrating how research and applied expertise developed in east London are informing decision-making at the highest levels of government.
Professor David Tann, Vice-Provost (Technology) and Executive Dean of the School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering, said,
This is a real milestone for us at UEL. To be part of a discussion at such high level, alongside colleagues from Oxford, Cambridge and Stanford, is a powerful testament to the quality, credibility and growing global reach of our colleagues’ impactful work on AI and policy.”
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