ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is stepping up its digital ambitions with Google, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosted the tech giant’s team in Islamabad for a new partnership focused on AI, digital skills and IT exports.
The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at expanding technology cooperation and creating new opportunities for Pakistan’s growing digital economy.
Under the agreement, Pakistan and Google will expand efforts to develop digital skills, increase IT exports and encourage innovation across the technology sector. Google plans to issue 150,000 Career Certificates in Pakistan during 2026, expanding access to industry-focused training for young people.
The partnership will also give Pakistani students access to advanced artificial intelligence tools. Students are expected to receive free access for one year to Google AI Plus and Gemini, along with other AI tools, under the initiative.
The two sides also agreed to cooperate on establishing an AI Center of Excellence in Islamabad. The center is expected to provide young Pakistanis and the country’s workforce with training in emerging technologies and AI skills aligned with the needs of the global market.
The agreement covers several other areas of Pakistan’s digital economy, including mobile applications and gaming. The government and Google will work to strengthen the global competitiveness of these industries while supporting digital payments and expanding digital commerce.
Artificial intelligence will also be explored for improving government services and public-sector operations. The partnership includes a proposal to use AI and data analytics in the Federal Board of Revenue’s digitization efforts to improve the use of data in tax administration.
Agriculture is another area included in the cooperation plan. AI-based tools could be used to monitor crops, forecast production and promote more sustainable farming practices.
The partnership also aims to help small and medium-sized Pakistani businesses use digital platforms to reach international markets, potentially giving local enterprises greater access to global customers.
The government, Google and other relevant stakeholders will form a task force to develop a roadmap for increasing Pakistan’s IT exports and improving the sector’s competitiveness. The group will assess barriers to IT growth and identify opportunities for expanding the industry.
The government expects the partnership to create new opportunities for young people, startups and technology businesses while strengthening Pakistan’s digital workforce.
The initiative is also linked to the government’s broader goal of increasing the country’s IT exports and digital economy to $30 billion by 2030, making the agreement a significant step in Pakistan’s long-term digital transformation strategy.
