Islamabad, February 17, 2026 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) organized a roundtable consultation on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Governance to explore how emerging technologies can responsibly support legislative work and strengthen democratic institutions, with a special focus on the Punjab Assembly.

The consultation brought together lawmakers’ representatives, policy specialists, and invited experts from leading universities and technology fields to discuss how artificial intelligence is shaping governance worldwide. Participants examined both the opportunities—such as improving legislative research, transparency, and public engagement—and the risks, including misinformation, bias, and misuse of digital technologies.

The University of the Punjab participated in the roundtable as an invited academic institution. The University was represented by Prof. Dr. Syed Waqar ul Qounain, Director of the National Center of Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) and Chairman of the Department of Information Technology, who shared expert insights on the responsible use of AI to support legislative processes while safeguarding transparency, ethics, and public trust.

Discussions highlighted the importance of collaboration between provincial assemblies and academic institutions to build knowledge, assess emerging technologies, and develop local capacity. Participants emphasized that artificial intelligence should serve as a tool to assist decision-making—not replace it—and must be guided by democratic values.

The roundtable concluded with agreement on the need for continued engagement, capacity-building initiatives, and structured partnerships between legislative bodies, academia, and UNDP to ensure that the use of AI in governance benefits citizens and strengthens democratic accountability.