Punjab Assembly begins scrutiny of AI use in public services
LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly has begun parliamentary scrutiny of artificial intelligence and digital governance, with its Special Committee No. 13 examining the use of AI in public services and the safeguards needed to protect citizens’ rights. Chaired by Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, the committee held its inaugural meeting on Thursday. It is the first parliamentary committee in Pakistan and…
In Lahore, Pakistan's Punjab Assembly commenced parliamentary investigation into the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital governance. This Special Committee No. 13, chaired by Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, was established as the first of its kind in Pakistan and the South Asian region, dedicated to addressing AI and digital governance.
The committee's deliberations commenced on Thursday following a three-day workshop in Islamabad from September 2 to 4, conducted by UNDP Pakistan and the United Kingdom’s international development organization. The workshop centered on exploring AI and digital technologies' potential advantages and risks, as well as the tenets of responsible governance.
The committee deliberated on an initial program of parliamentary inquiry into the utilization of AI within Punjab's public services. Two key areas were pinpointed for initial examination: the Punjab Safe Cities Authority's AI-assisted e-challan system and the welfare assistance connected to the Punjab Socio-Economic Registry (PSER).
The committee aimed to evaluate aspects such as the precision in violation detection, human verification of violations, citizens' right to access evidence, mechanisms for contesting and reviewing decisions, and the management of related data in the e-challan system.
Similarly, for the PSER, the committee would scrutinize registration and accessibility procedures, data precision, eligibility determinations, explanations for unfavorable decisions, rectification of inaccurate data, and avenues for reconsideration. Importantly, the committee pledged to establish, through evidence, the precise method by which eligibility was established, instead of presuming AI involvement.
The discussions also encompassed the constitutional and legal consequences of evolving digital technologies, encompassing digital harms, deepfakes, threats to democratic confidence, risks to women and vulnerable groups, data governance, and institutional capacity.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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