Pakistan and Google Sign Landmark Agreement
In a major step toward accelerating Pakistan’s digital transformation, the Government of Pakistan and global tech giant Google have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at boosting digital skills, expanding the use of artificial intelligence, and strengthening the country’s IT sector on the global stage.
Targeting a $30 Billion Digital Economy by 2030
The partnership is designed to help push Pakistan’s IT exports and overall digital economy to $30 billion by 2030, an ambitious target that hinges heavily on equipping the country’s young population with in-demand technical skills.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed a high-level Google delegation and attended the signing ceremony personally. The event was also attended by Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Google’s Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Policy Wilson White, and several other senior officials.
Speaking at the ceremony, PM Shehbaz Sharif called it a landmark day for the Pakistan-Google partnership, stressing that modern tools and new skill sets would help empower the country’s youth. He noted that Pakistan is currently undergoing significant digital transformation across multiple sectors, including governance, and that the country’s young population could play a decisive role in shaping its future.
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150,000 Google Career Certificates and Free AI Access for Students
Under the agreement, Google will provide 150,000 Google Career Certificates to young Pakistanis in 2026, giving them the chance to gain in-demand technical skills aligned with market needs. Google is also exploring options to expand its Career Certificates Program further to create more employment opportunities in fast-growing sectors.
In addition, the company is looking into providing students across Pakistan with one year of free access to advanced AI tools, including Google AI Plus and Gemini Notebook, to support education, research, and boost their competitiveness in the global IT industry.
AI Centre of Excellence to Be Set Up in Islamabad
Both sides have also agreed to establish a dedicated AI Centre of Excellence in Islamabad, where Pakistani youth and human resources will be trained to meet international technology market standards.
AI in Tax Reform and Agriculture
As part of the Prime Minister’s reform agenda for the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Google will assist FBR in modernizing public services through AI, making government operations more efficient, and speeding up its digital transformation.
The agreement also extends to agriculture, where AI technology will be used for crop monitoring, yield estimation, and promoting sustainable farming practices. Digital platforms will further help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) expand their reach into global markets.
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Support for App Developers, Gaming Studios, and Digital Payments
Google and the Government of Pakistan will also work together to support local app developers and gaming studios. Both parties plan to explore ways to strengthen the digital payments ecosystem and promote digital trade.
A Joint Task Force to Drive IT Exports
A joint task force comprising representatives from the government, Google, and key industry stakeholders will also be formed. This task force will identify challenges and opportunities for boosting IT exports, and will work on areas such as investment frameworks for hardware manufacturing and IT services, expanding access to global markets, and upskilling the workforce.
Google’s Cluster Director for Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand, Farhan Qureshi, described the partnership as an honor for Google, calling it an important step toward equipping Pakistan’s youth with modern skills and supporting the country’s journey toward a $30 billion digital economy.