In a historic move for the country’s rapidly expanding tech ecosystem, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif officially inaugurated the first Google office in Pakistan. This milestone marks a significant step toward transforming Pakistan into a regional technology and export hub.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad, was attended by key federal ministers, top government officials, and a senior Google delegation led by Wilson White, Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Policy. Together, they unveiled a commemorative plaque to celebrate this new chapter in Pakistan’s digital journey.
Deepening the Commitment to Pakistan’s Digital Future
The opening of the local office cements Google’s long-term vision for the country.
“We are opening Google’s office in Pakistan because we believe deeply in the country’s digital future and its talent,” stated Farhan Qureshi, Cluster Director for Google Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand.
He highlighted that this local presence will accelerate Pakistan’s digital transformation. Combined with a locally established Chromebook assembly line, this footprint drives high-value, AI-powered growth nationwide.
Building a “Future Forward Pakistan”
Google’s physical presence in the country is built on years of investing in its people and the local digital economy. The tech giant has rolled out several high-impact initiatives focusing on upskilling, developer growth, and digital literacy.
Here are the key milestones achieved so far:
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Digital Skilling & AI: In partnership with the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, Google is expanding digital and AI skills across the country. Since 2022, they have awarded 350,000 Career Certificate scholarships, with over 80% of graduates securing new jobs or business growth within six months.
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Local Chromebook Assembly Line: In a massive win for the hardware sector, Google partnered with Tech Valley, Allied, and the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) to launch a local assembly line. The initiative aims to produce 500,000 Chromebooks, boosting education, job creation, and hardware exports.
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Developer Growth: Google Developer Groups have successfully reached 300,000 developers. Additionally, the AI Seekho program has upskilled 50,000 developers in Generative AI and Google Cloud technologies.
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Gaming & Apps Ecosystem: Through Think Apps and App Design Masterclasses, Google has empowered 120 local gaming and app studios, helping them build some of the world’s most downloaded applications.
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Online Safety: The Digital Safar initiative has trained over 300,000 students and 5,000 educators in digital citizenship by integrating the “Be Internet Awesome” program with the Gemini Academy.
The Economic Impact of Google in Pakistan
Google’s upskilling initiatives have already equipped over one million teachers, students, developers, and creators with essential digital skills. Beyond education, Google’s products and programs have generated an estimated PKR 3.9 trillion in economic benefits for Pakistani businesses and households, sustaining approximately 965,000 jobs.
With a permanent office now established in Islamabad, Google aims to scale these high-impact programs alongside government and digital ecosystem partners. The vision is clear: to build a Future Forward Pakistan that is prosperous, AI-powered, and brimming with opportunity.
