Google has officially opened its first local office in Pakistan, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurating the facility at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad on August 18, according to an official statement.
Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja and senior government officials attended the inauguration alongside a nine-member Google delegation led by Wilson White, Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Policy. The delegation was accompanied by US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker. Sharif and Google representatives also unveiled a commemorative plaque at the ceremony.
The opening comes as Pakistan seeks to accelerate its digital transformation and increase annual information technology (IT) and IT-enabled services exports to $30 billion, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, startups, digital skills and connectivity.
Google expands local presence
Google said the office builds on more than a decade of partnerships and initiatives in Pakistan covering digital skills, AI, developer growth, digital literacy, gaming, applications and local hardware production.
Farhan Qureshi, Cluster Director for Google Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand, said the office would deepen the company’s engagement with Pakistan.
“We are opening Google’s office in Pakistan because we believe deeply in the country’s digital future and its talent,” said Farhan Qureshi, Cluster Director for Google Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand. “This local presence deepens our commitment to accelerate Pakistan’s digital transformation, building on years of partnerships and initiatives to create long-term opportunities. Coupled with the Chromebook assembly line established by local partners, this footprint reinforces Pakistan’s goal of becoming a regional technology and export hub while driving high-value, AI-powered growth nationwide.”
Google cites economic impact
White said Google has been engaged in Pakistan for more than a decade and linked its new local office to the country’s IT export ambitions.
“Google has been investing in and committed to Pakistan for over a decade and to be able to reach this milestone where we’re opening a local office, I think is a very special moment. Honorable Prime Minister, your ambition of making Pakistan a $30 billion IT export hub very much aligns with the goals that we have at Google,” White said at the inauguration ceremony.
He said Google’s activities had contributed to economic activity and employment in Pakistan. “Over the past 10 years, we have contributed to more than Rs3.9 trillion of economic activity for local Pakistani businesses as well as households in Pakistan, contributing to over 960,000 jobs, and this is just the beginning,” he said.
White said Google would support Pakistan’s IT export ambitions through investment in people, hardware manufacturing and local businesses. “We’re committing and I think furthering your goal of the $30 billion IT export ambition in three ways. We’re doing it by investing in the Pakistani people. We’re doing it by investing in the manufacturing and the infrastructure around exports of hardware, and then thirdly, we’re investing in local businesses.”
He further announced that Google Gemini subscriptions would be made free for all students in Pakistan for one year, with a formal announcement to follow later in the week.
Digital skills and developer programs
Google said it has partnered with the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication on digital and AI skilling, startup and gaming industry growth, and localized AI tools.
Since 2022, Google said it has awarded 350,000 Career Certificate scholarships in Pakistan. More than 80% of graduates reported a new job or business growth within six months of completing their certificates, according to the company.
Google Developer Groups have reached 300,000 developers, while its AI Seekho program has trained 50,000 developers in generative AI and Google Cloud technologies.
The company said its broader upskilling initiatives have equipped more than one million teachers, students, developers and creators with digital skills.
Support for gaming and local hardware
Google said its Think Apps and App Design Masterclasses programs have supported 120 local gaming and app studios.
The company has also partnered with Tech Valley, Allied and the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation to establish a local Chromebook assembly line with a planned production capacity of 500,000 devices.
Google said the initiative will support education, job creation and hardware exports.
Digital literacy programs
Through its Digital Safar initiative, Google said it has trained more than 300,000 students and 5,000 educators in digital citizenship.
The program integrates Be Internet Awesome with Gemini Academy, according to the company.
Sharif welcomes Google office
Sharif welcomed Google’s decision to establish a local office, saying it would strengthen Pakistan’s partnership with the company.
“It’s a wonderful day, a great day in our partnership. I think it’s a stepping stone toward a long journey of contributing in a field which is very attractive,” he said. “We will empower our youth through these wonderful modern tools, techniques and technology.”
During his meeting with the Google delegation before the inauguration, Sharif also appreciated the company’s role in advancing Pakistan’s digital economy and supporting employment opportunities for Pakistani youth.
“With Google’s local presence now established, high-impact programs could be scaled up further,” Sharif was quoted as saying by his office.
Google said it will now work with the government and digital ecosystem partners to expand its existing programs in Pakistan.