The Prime Minister’s Office has told all federal ministries and divisions to get approval from the Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA) before hiring for artificial intelligence roles. No department can move ahead without this clearance.
The rule applies to the full process. That includes creating AI posts, job ads, hiring approvals, and role descriptions. Everything must go through PDA review first.
The move brings AI hiring under one central system. Until now, different ministries have been handling it separately, often with different standards.
Officials say the change is meant to bring order to a fast-growing field. AI jobs need specific technical skills, and the government wants a consistent way to evaluate them.
The order also points to an earlier office memorandum from April 20, 2026, issued by PDA. That document laid out the review process for AI-related recruitment. The new directive makes that process mandatory.
Nothing linked to AI hiring can proceed without PDA approval. That is now the rule across the federal setup.
The change is expected to affect hiring plans in several departments. Some may need to slow down or revise upcoming recruitment drives for digital and AI teams.
Pakistan has been expanding its focus on digital systems and automation. This step places PDA at the center of AI workforce planning in the public sector.
