Exploring the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Transforming Higher Education Institutions in Quetta: Opportunities and Structural Barriers

The incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into higher education is redefining scholarly practices worldwide; nonetheless, its deployment in marginalized regions has progressed only incrementally. This paper looks at the effect of AI in universities of Quetta, the capital city of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan, and an explanation of the opportunities that have risen and structural obstacles that limit the adoption of AI on a broader scale. According to qualitative interviews held with administrative, faculty, and technological professionals, it is possible to conclude that AI could enhance learning, standardize administrative activities, and alleviate resource limitations in a difficult social-economic environment. At the same time, the analysis outlines key obstacles, such as technological backwardness, resistance on the part of faculty, insufficient digital literacy level, and insufficient support at the institutional level. The results also indicate the need to have context-sensitive policy frameworks and capacity-building programs to encourage the AI integration into the higher ed sector in Quetta and contribute to regional development as well as supporting national education reform strategies.