From classrooms in Lahore to farms in Sindh, when Pakistan uses wisely, artificial intelligence (AI) can become as common as smartphones. Large-scale language models (LLM) represent one of the most powerful applications of AI.
Many still think of it as a chatbot, but that possibility is far beyond that. They can reconstruct Pakistan's most important sectors by improving efficiency, expanding access to services and driving innovation. If deployed thoughtfully with a legitimate plan, they can make meaningful changes to education, healthcare, agriculture, finances and public services.
A study in the Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences suggests that teachers may already use LLM to support learning English as a foreign language (EFL). In the classroom, LLMS helps teachers prepare lesson materials, create practice questions, and provide personalized feedback to students. For example, rural English learners can do additional practice through AI tools after school hours.
The study noted that simple chat and questioning tools are the most widely used by teachers, whereas more complex features such as advanced content creation are less common.
This suggests that simple targeted AI tools can have the fastest impact. Still, teachers need to train them to review and refine AI-generated materials to ensure accuracy and relevance. Without this oversight, there is a risk of misinformation and overreliance on AI.
Similar opportunities exist in healthcare where AI can bridge key gaps in access to services and improve patient outcomes.
Pakistan is experiencing a sudden shortage of doctors, especially in rural areas and underserved areas. LLM-driven tools can support nurses and other healthcare professionals by providing rapid symptom checks, converting medical information into local languages, and guiding patients through basic health steps. However, these tools need to be carefully tested to protect patient privacy, ensure medical care accuracy and maintain public confidence.
Furthermore, AI can transform key sectors of agriculture by equipping farmers with timely localized information in all languages, including weather forecasts, crop care advice, and early warnings about plant diseases. This could improve your decision-making and increase your yields.
Beyond the field, AI could modernize Pakistan's financial system, making banks safer, more accessible and user-friendly. In banking and financial services, LLMS helps detect fraud, improve customer service and analyze risks. What's more, they can simplify complex financial conditions for the public and help more people make informed decisions.
However, recognizing these benefits across sectors requires overcoming key challenges, ranging from language bias to limited digital infrastructure.
Research has found that LLM often behaves differently in local languages compared to English. This can lead to unintended biases in the way information is presented.
Other such challenges include limited internet access in rural areas, high costs of AI tools, and the risk of excessiveness.
Reliance on AI without human supervision. These risks need to be addressed before deploying large-scale AI initiatives.
If Pakistan invests in the right tools, trains its labor and ensures fair access, AI will help address some of the most pressing challenges facing the country. Technology is ready. It's time for Pakistan to prepare too.
Khadija Nadeem
Pennsylvania, USA
Published on Dawn on August 23, 2025
