SMIU hosts AI and education governance panel
KARACHI: The Faculty of Information Technology at Sindh Madressatul Islam University, in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Information Technology, Government of Sindh, and the university’s ORIC, organized a panel discussion titled “Sustainable Educational Governance in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” at the Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto Auditorium.
The panel featured Noor Ahmed Samoon (Secretary, Training Management and Research Wing, Sindh), Ayaz Ahmed Uqeli (Member, IT Industry Development), Faiza Yusuf (Software Engineer and Principal Product Manager), Atiq Raja (CEO, AR Trainings and Consultancy), and Syed Muhammad Hassan (Lecturer, AI and Mathematical Sciences, SMIU). The session brought together educators, policymakers, technologists, and industry professionals to examine how AI is reshaping education systems and governance in Sindh and other provinces.
Speakers stressed that while AI has made access to information easier than ever, it has also increased the responsibility of educational institutions to promote purpose-driven learning, ethics, and critical thinking rather than uncritical use of digital content.
Highlighting governance applications, Noor Ahmed Samo shared practical examples of AI-based digital governance, including its use in local government departments and flood-affected areas to improve coordination and service delivery. With support from Meta, authorities used WhatsApp-based solutions to identify and directly reach affected citizens. He noted that modern governance relies on data-driven decisions and citizen-centric services, and that Sindh has launched training programs to equip government officers with AI tools to improve transparency and efficiency. He added that intelligence today is closely linked to asking the right questions, where AI can serve as a strong aid.
Panelists emphasized that teachers now play a more vital role in helping students verify information and use it responsibly. They cautioned against using AI merely as a shortcut, urging learners to use it for creativity, research, and innovation, grounded in strong ethical values. The session was moderated by Dr. Imtiaz Hussain, and Dean Dr. Jamshed Adil Halepoto presented souvenirs to the guests.
