Islamabad, July 15,2026: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar will visit Shanghai, China, from July 16 to 17 to attend the signing ceremony for the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), where Pakistan will join as a founding member.
According to the Foreign Office, the visit is being undertaken 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.
On July 16, Dar will attend the signing ceremony for the establishment of WAICO and will sign the agreement on behalf of Pakistan as a founding member of the new international organization.
The deputy prime minister will also participate in the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance on July 17.
On the sidelines of the conference, Dar is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Wang Yi and meet several other foreign counterparts to discuss matters of mutual interest.
During his engagements, the deputy prime minister will present Pakistan’s perspective on strengthening international cooperation in artificial intelligence, with particular emphasis on addressing the priorities and development needs of countries in the Global South.
He is expected to underscore the importance of bridging the global artificial intelligence divide by promoting equitable access to AI technologies, enhancing capacity-building and ensuring that the benefits of AI contribute to sustainable development and shared prosperity.
The visit reflects Pakistan’s growing engagement in global discussions on emerging technologies and its commitment to participating in international initiatives aimed at shaping the future governance and responsible development of artificial intelligence.
