ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja has described the opening of Google’s first office in Pakistan as a major development for the country’s digital ecosystem and a reflection of growing confidence in Pakistan’s technology sector.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif formally inaugurated Google’s Islamabad office on Tuesday, describing its opening as a major milestone in Pakistan’s digital transformation and its expanding partnership with the global technology company.
Google’s Presence a Milestone for Digital Pakistan
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Shaza Fatima said Google’s decision to establish a local office represented an important development for Pakistan’s digital economy.
She said the government was working to connect Pakistani talent with international opportunities while ensuring that digital transformation translated into practical benefits for young people, women, startups and businesses.
The minister linked the development with the government’s vision of “Digital Nation Pakistan”, under which greater use of technology is intended to support economic activity, innovation and access to digital services.
She added that the Ministry of IT and Telecommunications would continue working with Google in areas including digital skills, artificial intelligence, cloud technologies, education, innovation and entrepreneurship.
PM Shehbaz Sees New Opportunities
Prime Minister Shehbaz congratulated Google’s team and Pakistan’s technology community during the ceremony, calling the occasion an important step towards a long-term relationship with the technology giant.
He said greater cooperation with Google could help Pakistan benefit from modern tools and technologies while empowering the country’s young population.
According to the prime minister, the partnership could also create new avenues of cooperation across the digital sector, which has become increasingly important to economies around the world.
Welcoming the Google delegation led by Vice President Wilson L White, Shehbaz said he expected the partnership between Pakistan and Google to expand further in the coming years.
Google Highlights More Than a Decade of Investment
Wilson said Google had been investing in Pakistan for more than a decade and thanked the prime minister for hosting the company’s delegation.
He said Google’s objectives were closely aligned with Prime Minister Shehbaz’s ambition to transform Pakistan into a $30 billion IT export hub.
Wilson said Google had contributed more than Rs3.9 trillion to economic activity involving Pakistani businesses and households over the past 10 years, while supporting more than 960,000 jobs.
He said the company remained committed to supporting Pakistan’s IT export ambitions through investment in Pakistani talent, local businesses, hardware manufacturing and infrastructure for hardware exports.
PM Shehbaz Inaugurates Google’s Pakistan Office, Calls It a ‘Beautiful New Journey’
Focus on Digital Skills and Human Resources
The Google executive stressed that investment in human resources would be essential for Pakistan to successfully complete its digital transformation.
He said Google had already helped more than one million Pakistanis develop digital skills through career certificate programmes and initiatives involving schools and teachers.
These programmes are aimed at helping young people acquire skills required in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
The emphasis on skills development is particularly relevant as artificial intelligence, cloud computing and other emerging technologies continue to reshape employment and business models worldwide.
Free Gemini Subscriptions for Students
Google also announced an initiative aimed specifically at Pakistan’s students.
Wilson said the company would provide free one-year subscriptions to Google Gemini to all students in Pakistan.
The initiative is intended to give students greater access to artificial intelligence tools and help them develop familiarity with emerging technologies.
It could also support learning, research and productivity while exposing young people to tools that are becoming increasingly relevant across education and the workplace.
Pakistan Seeks Stronger Digital Economy
The opening of Google’s Islamabad office comes as Pakistan seeks to expand its IT exports, attract international technology investment and create more opportunities for its growing pool of digital talent.
For the government, stronger partnerships with global technology companies could help improve skills, encourage entrepreneurship and connect Pakistani businesses with international markets.
Shaza Fatima said Google’s local presence would help strengthen this broader digital ecosystem, while the company’s commitments on skills, investment and artificial intelligence indicate areas where cooperation could expand.
The government and Google have therefore signalled an intention to build on the new local presence through continued collaboration, with Pakistan’s youth and digital economy positioned at the centre of the partnership.
