Malakandi, Kaghan Valley, 8 July 2026: The Pakistan Scientific and Technological Information Centre (PASTIC), Regional Office Peshawar, in collaboration with Islamia College Peshawar and the Pakistan Librarians Society (PLS), successfully organized a three-day professional training workshop on “AI, Digital Libraries and Advanced Research Tools” from 6 to 8 July 2026 at Fairyland Hotel, Malakandi, Kaghan Valley.
The training program aimed to strengthen participants’ professional competencies and enhance their understanding of emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, digital library systems, advanced research tools, and the evolving role of libraries in the digital age.
A total of 50 participants representing all provinces of Pakistan and Gilgit-Baltistan attended the training program. Participants benefited from expert-led sessions, interactive discussions, and practical learning activities conducted throughout the three-day workshop.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Prof. Dr. Ahmad-ur-Rahman Saljoqi Ahmadi, Vice Chancellor, Islamia College Peshawar, as the Chief Guest.
In his keynote address, Prof. Dr. Ahmad-ur-Rahman highlighted the transformative role of artificial intelligence in higher education, scientific research, and modern library services. He emphasized that rapidly emerging digital technologies are reshaping how information is created, organized, accessed, and utilised by researchers and academic institutions.
The Chief Guest appreciated the collaborative efforts of PASTIC Regional Office Peshawar, Islamia College Peshawar, and the Pakistan Librarians Society for organizing a timely and impactful professional development initiative. He expressed the hope that similar collaborative capacity-building programs would continue in the future to further strengthen the professional competencies of library and information professionals.
Throughout the three-day workshop, participants attended informative and practical sessions on Prompt Engineering, AI-Powered Virtual Libraries, Advanced AI Research Tools, Bibliometric Analysis, BIBFRAME, Smart PLS, and the Future of Libraries.
The sessions provided participants with valuable insights into the application of artificial intelligence in research and information management, the development of modern digital library services, the use of advanced tools for scholarly analysis, and emerging trends shaping the future of the library and information profession.
The workshop concluded with an interactive feedback session during which participants shared their experiences and appreciated the relevance, quality, and practical value of the training program. The closing ceremony was followed by the distribution of certificates and commemorative shields among the participants and resource persons.
The successful completion of the training reflects PASTIC’s continued commitment to professional capacity building, digital transformation, knowledge sharing, and the promotion of emerging technologies among researchers, academics, librarians, and information professionals across Pakistan.