Pakistan's Quantum Exploration: Obstacles and Hope

List of Key Chapter Titles

1. Strategic Initiation of Quantum Technology Development in Pakistan
2. Global Quantum Technology Market Size and Investment Landscape
3. Formation and Impact of the International Quantum Divide
4. Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities Faced by Pakistan
5. Strategic Challenges Posed by India's Quantum Initiative to Pakistan
6. The Core Obstacle to Pakistan's Quantum Plan: Brain Drain
7. Constraints on Quantum Development from Pakistan's Education and Economic Situation
8. High-Cost Nature of Quantum Technology and Limitations of the Entrepreneurial Environment
9. International Cooperation Opportunities for Pakistan's Quantum Technology Development
10. Domestic Key Measures to Promote Quantum Technology Development

Document Introduction

Against the backdrop of a booming global quantum technology market and increasingly intense geopolitical strategic competition, Pakistan's Minister for Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal, announced the establishment of a National Quantum Computing Center, marking the country's official strategic exploration into the quantum field. This move is not only a crucial attempt by Pakistan to address the global quantum divide but also an important consideration for maintaining regional strategic balance.

The global quantum technology market has broad prospects, with its scale expected to reach $106 billion by 2040. Private investment reached $1.5 billion in 2023, and global public sector investment exceeded $38 billion. China leads with a total investment of $15.3 billion, while the United States, the European Union, Canada, and others are also significantly increasing their investments. However, the lack of national quantum plans in most countries has led to a continuously widening quantum divide, creating significant gaps in technological capabilities and economic opportunities. Countries without established quantum technology infrastructure face risks of falling behind, increased network vulnerabilities, and declining global economic competitiveness.

For Pakistan, exploration in the quantum field presents both urgency and challenges. Kaspersky Lab ranks it among the least protected countries in terms of cybersecurity, and the quantum initiative of its neighbor, India, further intensifies strategic pressure. India announced an eight-year, $740 million National Quantum Mission, established cooperation with the US, Australia, and Russia, and its Army emphasizes integrating quantum computing into defense systems, potentially shifting the regional power balance. Pakistan's Army Chief General Asim Munir has clearly recognized the importance of quantum investment for maintaining strategic balance.

Pakistan's quantum exploration faces multiple practical obstacles. The most prominent is the brain drain issue. From 1971 to 2022, over 6 million highly skilled professionals emigrated, with 92,000 highly educated professionals leaving in 2022 alone. In the first three months of 2023, nearly 200,000 people emigrated, and 67% of young respondents expressed a desire to go abroad, severely impacting talent reserves in the quantum field. Simultaneously, the country's high illiteracy rate, low education levels, an economy under IMF program constraints with strict fiscal limitations, the high cost of quantum technology (basic quantum processors costing millions of dollars, with high operational expenses like cooling systems), and a lagging entrepreneurial culture further constrain private investment and the establishment of university quantum laboratories.

Facing these difficulties, the United Nations' declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology provides a significant opportunity for Pakistan, enabling it to seek UN assistance to strengthen quantum infrastructure. Engaging in international cooperation with leading quantum technology nations like China and the United States holds the promise of acquiring necessary expertise, resources, and technological know-how. Furthermore, improving the domestic education system, creating economic opportunities, and fostering a national innovation system have become key areas Pakistan must break through to advance quantum technology development.