Google announced a major initiative to produce 500,000 Chromebooks in Pakistan, aiming to strengthen the country’s tech industry and support its growing freelance economy.
At a launch ceremony in Islamabad, Google Asia Pacific President Scott Beaumont presented the first Chromebook to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, marking a significant milestone in Pakistan’s digital transformation journey.
During the “Agay Barho – Google for Pakistan” event in Islamabad on September 5 (Thursday), experts called for efforts and commitment to unlocking future opportunities for Pakistan’s digital economy.
According to the recently launched report titled “Agay Barho – Empowering Pakistan’s Digital Economy,” Pakistan’s information technology (IT) industry was emerging as the engine of economic recovery and growth despite facing economic challenges. “Pakistan’s IT services exports have grown by 2.7 times since 2014, reaching 35% of all service-sector exports in 2023,” it stated.
The report stated that digital technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), are playing a significant role in accelerating exports, by enabling the creation of new opportunities and access to overseas markets.
“Pakistan has vast potential to increase the share of its digital exports, specifically by developing new exportable digital solutions, reducing the cost of accessing overseas markets, and driving more efficiency in the export process,” it stated.
The study found that digital technologies will contribute significantly to Pakistan’s digital exports, with an additional USD 6.6 billion (PKR 1.8 trillion) in annual export value in 2030 gained by exports of mobile apps, online video services, cross-border digital ads, cross-border e-commerce, and other digital services.
To grow the country’s digital exports, Pakistan needs a digitally skilled workforce. Unfortunately, around 80% of IT graduates lack relevant industry skills, according to the report which called for an urgent need to invest in digital skills training and education in Pakistan for the workforce to ensure competitiveness and readiness to participate in the digital economy. Narrowing the digital skills gap through digital skills training and greater adoption of education technologies can add Rs2.8 trillion to Pakistan’s GDP in 2030, according to the report.
Driving Economic Growth through Tech
Farhan Qureshi, Google’s Regional Director for Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, highlighted the potential for technology to fuel economic growth, especially in Pakistan’s thriving freelancer market. Qureshi emphasized that Pakistan’s skilled workforce could play a vital role in the country’s progress through the adoption of modern technology and digital platforms.
“We are proud that in 2023 alone, Google’s AI-powered tools contributed a staggering Rs3.9 trillion to the Pakistani economy. In addition, our recent partnership with Tech Valley, Allied and NRTC to produce 500,000 Chromebooks locally, with the prime minister’s support,” Farhan said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Google‘s contribution to Pakistan’s IT sector and acknowledged the global impact of the tech giant. He expressed confidence in the potential of Pakistan’s youth, calling them a “driving force” in the country’s quest for economic development.
The prime minister outlined the government’s ambitious goal of increasing IT exports to $25 billion over the next five years and urged IT experts and entrepreneurs to devise strategies to achieve this target. He also stressed the importance of empowering Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and freelancers to contribute to this vision.
The event was also attended by IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, and other government officials.
Government’s reiterates commitment to Digitalization
Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed the government’s dedication to digitizing its operations, aiming for a paperless and corruption-free system. He referenced the recent appointment of a new Secretary for the Ministry of IT, chosen through a merit-based process, as a step toward achieving this goal.
State Minister for Information, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, commended Google’s role in supporting Pakistan’s digital transformation, aligning with the prime minister’s vision for a modernized and technologically advanced nation.
“The potential of digital exports to transform our economy is immense,” she said. “By working together, the public and private sectors can ensure Pakistan reaches its full potential in the digital age,” the minister said, noting that Google has provided over 960,000 jobs to Pakistani youths in 2023 alone. “The success of these Google initiatives in Pakistan is a testament to both; the country’s potential in the digital world and Google’s commitment to upskilling and uplifting the youth of our country.”
Key highlights – How Google is empowering Pakistan’s Digital Economy
In 2023, Google’s AI-powered products and solutions helped provide PKR 3.9 trillion (+222% vs. 2020) of economic benefits for Pakistani businesses and households.
Google Search, Google Ads, Google AdSense, Google Play, Google Cloud, and YouTube helped provide PKR 2.6 trillion of economic activity for Pakistani businesses in 2023.
Google also supported 864,600 jobs by helping businesses expand through their use of Google products, with an additional 100,400 jobs supported by the Android app economy.
Google’s Chromebook initiative underscores its commitment to fostering economic growth and advancing Pakistan’s digital landscape.