Pakistan Takes Global Digital Leadership with DCO Presidency

WEB DESK: In a significant milestone for digital diplomacy, Pakistan officially assumed the presidency of the Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO) during the 5th General Assembly held here on February 5, 2026. The ceremonial handover marks the first time Pakistan will lead the 16-nation bloc, widely seen as a recognition of Islamabad’s growing influence in the global technology landscape.

Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja accepted the leadership mantle from the outgoing chair, the State of Kuwait. Addressing a summit of high-level delegates and global tech leaders, Minister Khawaja outlined an ambitious 2026 agenda centered on the theme of “Inclusive Prosperity in the Age of AI.”

Khawaja emphasized the need for responsible AI governance by championing ethical frameworks to prevent a widening global AI divide. She proposed creating digital trust corridors to enable secure cross-border data management and strengthened cybersecurity cooperation among member states.

Equitable access was another key focus, with an emphasis on expanding digital education and infrastructure, particularly empowering youth and female entrepreneurs. Strategic partnerships were also highlighted as crucial for attracting investment in digital infrastructure and facilitating talent mobility.

“We believe in an open-source spirit of cooperation,” Khawaja stated during her address. “Our goal is to ensure that the AI divide does not become the new economic divide of our time.”

Under Pakistani guidance, the DCO will prioritize “agentic AI” governance and digital skills development, ensuring that the benefits of the digital revolution reach underrepresented communities across all 1.7 billion people represented by member states.

Founded in 2020 by Pakistan alongside Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait, the DCO has rapidly evolved into a USD3.5 trillion economic bloc. Pakistan’s presidency coincides with the launch of the DCO’s 2025–2028 Four-Year Agenda, positioning Islamabad at the center of international discussions on data sovereignty and emerging technology.

The 2026 term is expected to culminate in Pakistan hosting the next General Assembly in 2027, providing a high-profile platform for policymakers and CEOs to showcase the “Digital Nation Pakistan” initiative to a global audience.