ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s digital regulator has entered into a partnership with Switzerland-based non-profit organization DFINITY Foundation for the development of a sovereign cloud infrastructure and AI-native software system, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.
The agreement between Pakistan Digital Authority, the government agency overseeing Pakistan’s digital transformation, and DFINITY aims to enable tamper-resistant software, nation-wide digital services, and artificial intelligence applications without relying on foreign cloud providers, while ensuring that sensitive public data is kept within the country.
As part of the collaboration, DFINITY will support the creation of a Pakistan-specific subnet on the Internet Computer Platform, a sovereign cloud network designed to host secure government applications and AI-powered systems.
The partnership also includes plans to pilot a national messaging application, expand access to DFINITY’s AI software platform Caffeine, and roll out capacity-building efforts across government, education, and entrepreneurship.
“This partnership marks an important step in Pakistan’s digital evolution,” Dr. Sohail Munir, Director-General of Pakistan Digital Authority, said in a statement released by the authority.
“By investing in sovereign cloud infrastructure and modern AI-enabled platforms, we are strengthening national resilience, supporting innovation, and creating new opportunities for public institutions, students, and entrepreneurs,” he continued.
DFINITY, which describes itself as a research institute, said the agreement will allow Pakistan to develop and operate cloud and AI services under its own control.
The foundation is also working to establish a local presence in Pakistan and provide 1,500 licenses to the Caffeine platform, which allows users to build and deploy applications using natural language commands.
“Pakistan is taking a forward-looking approach to digital infrastructure,” said Dominic Williams, the organization’s founder and chief scientist.
“By establishing a Pakistani subnet and investing in a sovereign, tamper-proof system, Pakistan is laying the foundation for software and AI applications that are secure, verifiable, and built to meet national priorities,” he added.
The Pakistan Digital Authority was established under the Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2025 and is tasked with overseeing digital policy, data and AI governance, and national digital infrastructure across federal and provincial institutions.
Founded in 2016, DFINITY is based in Zurich and San Francisco and focuses on distributed systems, cryptography, and advanced computing.
