IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja says Google’s first Pakistan office marks a major milestone in the country’s digital transformation.
WEB DESK: Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja has described Google’s first office in Pakistan as a significant milestone for the country’s digital transformation, saying the company’s local presence will help strengthen Pakistan’s digital ecosystem.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Islamabad, Shaza said Google’s presence reflected growing confidence in Pakistan’s digital economy and supported the government’s vision of building a “Digital Nation Pakistan.”
The minister said the government was focused on connecting Pakistani talent with global opportunities and ensuring that digital transformation created greater opportunities for young people, women, startups and businesses.
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.
Google highlights investment in Pakistan
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formally inaugurated Google’s first Pakistan office in Islamabad on Tuesday, describing the opening as an important step in Pakistan’s digital transformation and its long-term partnership with the technology company.
Google Vice President Wilson L White said the company had been investing in Pakistan for more than a decade and that its objectives were aligned with the government’s ambition to develop Pakistan into a $30 billion IT export hub.
According to White, Google has contributed more than Rs3.9 trillion to economic activity involving Pakistani businesses and households over the past decade, while supporting more than 960,000 jobs.
He said Google remained committed to supporting Pakistan’s IT export ambitions through investment in local talent, hardware manufacturing, export infrastructure and businesses.
Free Google Gemini subscriptions for Pakistani students
Google also announced a new initiative aimed at supporting Pakistan’s young population.
White said the company would provide free one-year Google Gemini subscriptions to all students in Pakistan, describing the initiative as a way to help young people develop modern digital skills and benefit from emerging technologies.
He added that Google had already helped more than one million Pakistanis develop digital skills through career certificates and initiatives involving schools and teachers.
The announcement comes as Pakistan seeks to expand its technology sector, increase IT exports and equip its growing youth population with skills needed for the digital economy.
