ISLAMABAD, Aug 18 (Alliance News): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday formally inaugurated Google’s new office in Islamabad, describing the development as a major milestone in Pakistan’s digital transformation and a “beautiful new journey” in the country’s partnership with the global technology giant.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the prime minister congratulated Google’s team and Pakistan’s technology community, saying the establishment of the office represented an important step towards strengthening long-term cooperation in the digital sector.
“This is a great day and a beautiful new journey,” the premier said, expressing confidence that the partnership between Pakistan and Google would continue to expand and create new opportunities for the country’s young population.
PM Shehbaz said Pakistan’s collaboration with Google would contribute to one of the most important sectors of the modern economy and help equip young people with advanced digital tools, skills and technologies.
Welcoming the Google delegation led by Vice President Wilson L White, the prime minister said Pakistan was committed to creating an environment that encouraged technology investment, innovation and digital entrepreneurship.
He said the government wanted to harness the potential of Pakistan’s young population by providing them with access to modern education, digital skills and emerging technologies.
The premier expressed optimism that Google’s presence in Pakistan would open new avenues for cooperation in areas including information technology, digital education, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and technology-enabled businesses.
Google backs Pakistan’s $30bn IT export ambition
Speaking at the ceremony, Google Vice President Wilson L White thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz for hosting the company’s delegation and said Google had been investing in Pakistan for more than a decade.
Wilson said the prime minister’s ambition to transform Pakistan into a $30 billion IT export hub was closely aligned with Google’s objectives and its broader commitment to supporting the country’s digital economy.
He said Google had contributed more than Rs3.9 trillion to economic activity involving Pakistani businesses and households over the past 10 years.
The company’s activities had also supported more than 960,000 jobs, he said.
Wilson said Google was committed to supporting Pakistan’s IT export ambitions through investment in Pakistani talent, manufacturing and infrastructure for hardware exports, as well as support for local businesses.
He emphasised that Pakistan’s digital transformation could only succeed through sustained investment in human resources.
“Digital transformation” required not only technology and infrastructure but also a skilled workforce capable of using emerging technologies to create businesses, products and services, he said.
More than one million Pakistanis upskilled
The Google vice president said the company had already helped more than one million Pakistanis acquire digital skills through career certificates and programmes conducted in collaboration with schools and teachers.
He said these initiatives were designed to prepare young people for the rapidly changing requirements of the digital economy and provide them with skills relevant to modern workplaces.
Google’s programmes have focused on areas such as digital marketing, data analytics, IT support, project management and other technology-related skills.
Wilson said the company intended to further expand such initiatives as Pakistan sought to increase its contribution to the global digital economy.
He also highlighted the importance of supporting local entrepreneurs and businesses so they could use digital platforms to reach domestic and international markets.
Free Gemini subscriptions for students
In a major announcement at the ceremony, Wilson said Google would provide free one-year subscriptions to Google Gemini for students across Pakistan.
The initiative is aimed at enabling students to access artificial intelligence tools and develop skills relevant to the emerging AI-driven economy.
The Google vice president said greater access to AI technologies could help Pakistani students improve their learning capabilities, explore new ideas and prepare for future employment opportunities.
The initiative is also expected to support the government’s broader objective of expanding digital literacy and increasing the use of artificial intelligence in education.
PM Shehbaz welcomed Google’s commitment to Pakistan’s youth and said initiatives aimed at providing young people with modern technological skills were essential for the country’s future economic growth.
He stressed that Pakistan’s large and increasingly connected youth population represented a major opportunity for the country if provided with appropriate education, training and employment opportunities.
Focus on digital economy
The establishment of Google’s office in Islamabad comes as Pakistan seeks to increase IT exports, attract international technology companies and strengthen its position in the global digital economy.
The government has identified information technology, artificial intelligence, freelancing, software development and digital services as key areas for economic growth and employment generation.
PM Shehbaz said stronger cooperation with international technology companies could help Pakistan develop its digital infrastructure, improve skills and create opportunities for young people to participate in global markets.
The prime minister also expressed confidence that Google’s investment and engagement would encourage further international technology companies to explore opportunities in Pakistan.
The inauguration marks a significant development in Google’s presence in Pakistan and comes at a time when the country is seeking to accelerate its digital transformation and build a technology-driven economy.
