Pakistan has signed a memorandum of understanding with the DFINITY Foundation in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s digital sovereignty and building infrastructure designed for an AI-driven future.
The agreement, announced today with the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA), focuses on advancing sovereign, AI-native digital systems that can operate securely within national borders. A central goal is to ensure that sensitive government and institutional data remains inside Pakistan, while enabling modern digital services that are less dependent on foreign cloud providers.
As part of the partnership, DFINITY will support the creation of a dedicated Pakistan Subnet on its Internet Computer Platform (ICP). This subnet is being positioned as a sovereign cloud environment intended to host tamper-resistant applications, national-scale public services, and AI-powered software systems. The concept is designed to give countries greater control over where their digital infrastructure is run, how data is stored, and who has access to critical systems.
Supporters of the initiative describe it as part of a broader shift as governments around the world reconsider reliance on large international cloud platforms for sensitive workloads. Pakistan’s leadership has increasingly spoken about digital autonomy, particularly as artificial intelligence begins to influence how software is built and operated.
The MoU also includes plans for the pilot development of a National Messenger application. This proposed service would provide private, verifiable communications at a national level, potentially using digital identity tools and privacy-focused infrastructure. While still early in scope, such an application could become an important test case for whether sovereign cloud systems can support real-world public communication platforms.
Another key element of the collaboration involves expanded access to Caffeine, an AI platform incubated by DFINITY. Caffeine allows users to build and deploy applications by describing what they want in natural language, reducing the need for large engineering teams or complex development pipelines.
Pakistan is expected to receive 1,500 initial Caffeine licences, intended for use across government, academia, the private sector, and startups. The stated aim is to support capacity building and encourage local innovation by giving institutions and entrepreneurs tools to create digital services more quickly.
“This partnership marks an important step in Pakistan’s digital evolution,” said Dr Sohail Munir, Chairperson of the Pakistan Digital Authority. He pointed to the role of sovereign cloud infrastructure in strengthening national resilience, supporting innovation, and creating opportunities for public institutions, students, and entrepreneurs.
Dominic Williams, Founder and Chief Scientist of DFINITY and Caffeine, said Pakistan is taking a forward-looking approach to digital infrastructure. He argued that sovereign and verifiable systems can help countries build software and AI services that align with national priorities while remaining secure and independently operated.
DFINITY has also announced plans to establish a local presence in Pakistan, signalling an intention for longer-term collaboration with local developers, educational institutions, and government bodies.
The announcement comes amid rising regional interest in sovereign cloud technology, particularly across the MENAP region, where governments are exploring how to modernise infrastructure while retaining control over data residency and cybersecurity.
Still, the agreement remains an early-stage framework rather than a completed deployment. The long-term impact will depend on implementation, governance, security oversight, and whether these systems can deliver practical benefits at national scale.
For Pakistan, the MoU reflects a wider ambition to position the country for an AI-driven digital economy, where infrastructure is increasingly expected to be secure, resilient, and nationally controlled.
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