Google formally opens Islamabad office
News Desk
Islamabad: Pakistan’s push to expand its technology sector has received a new boost with Google formally opening its office in Islamabad, as the government seeks to turn the country into a major hub for IT exports.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the office on Tuesday, describing the development as a major milestone in Pakistan’s digital transformation and a new phase in its partnership with the global technology company.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the prime minister said closer cooperation with Google could help Pakistan’s young population gain access to modern digital tools, skills and technologies.
He said the opening of the office represented an important step towards a long-term partnership and expressed confidence that cooperation with Google would expand into new areas of the digital economy.
The ceremony was attended by a Google delegation led by Vice President Wilson L White, who said the company had been investing in Pakistan for more than a decade.
Google backs Pakistan’s IT ambitions
A key focus of the partnership is Pakistan’s ambition to increase its technology exports.
Wilson said Google’s objectives were closely aligned with Prime Minister Shehbaz’s target of turning Pakistan into a $30 billion IT export hub.
He said Google had 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.
The company, he added, remained committed to supporting Pakistan’s technology ambitions through investment in local talent, hardware manufacturing and infrastructure, as well as support for local businesses.
Skills seen as key to digital growth
Google’s delegation stressed that infrastructure and investment alone would not be enough to transform Pakistan’s digital economy.
Wilson said developing human resources would be essential for the country to compete in the global technology market.
According to Google, the company has already helped more than one million Pakistanis develop digital skills through career certificates and programmes involving schools and teachers.
The focus on skills comes as Pakistan seeks to increase its share of the global IT and digital services market, with its large young population viewed as a potential source of technology talent.
Free Gemini access for students
Google also announced a new initiative aimed directly at Pakistani students.
The company will provide free one-year subscriptions to Google Gemini to students across Pakistan, giving them access to the company’s artificial intelligence tools.
Wilson said the initiative was intended to help young Pakistanis develop modern digital skills and make greater use of emerging technologies.
The announcement adds an AI-focused dimension to Google’s broader engagement with Pakistan, as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly important across education, business and the technology sector.
More than an office opening
For the government, Google’s Islamabad office represents more than the establishment of a physical presence.
It comes as Pakistan attempts to build a stronger digital economy, attract technology investment and increase IT exports.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said the partnership could empower young people and create new opportunities in a sector that is becoming increasingly important to the global economy.
For Google, meanwhile, the expansion provides a stronger local presence in a market where the company says it has already built a significant economic and skills-development footprint.
The challenge now will be converting these commitments into sustained investment, stronger digital skills and higher-value technology exports.
If that happens, the new Islamabad office could become more than a corporate milestone, it could serve as part of Pakistan’s wider effort to build a competitive position in the global digital economy.
