Google Office Opens in Pakistan, Google Delegation Meets Prime Minister

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met a nine-member delegation of Google, led by Wilson White, Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy, in Islamabad.

US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker also accompanied the Google delegation during the meeting.

Welcoming the delegation, the prime minister said Pakistan was undergoing large-scale digital transformation, including the digitalisation of government affairs and the economy.

He briefed the delegation on the government’s Digital Nation Pakistan vision and said several initiatives aimed at developing a national digital ecosystem were in the final stages of implementation.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated the government’s commitment to modernising the country’s IT infrastructure and briefed the Google delegation on ongoing programmes to train young Pakistanis in information technology and artificial intelligence.

He stressed the importance of collaboration with global technology companies such as Google to achieve Pakistan’s digital transformation objectives.

The prime minister welcomed Google’s decision to establish an office in Pakistan, saying the move would further strengthen the partnership between Pakistan and the technology company.

He appreciated Google’s contribution to the development of Pakistan’s digital economy and its initiatives that had provided employment opportunities to thousands of Pakistani youth.

Highlighting the potential of Pakistani youth in the digital sector, the prime minister expressed hope that Google would further expand its programmes aimed at enhancing their skills and empowering them.

He said that with Google’s presence now established in Pakistan, programmes with a wider and more significant impact could be implemented on a larger scale.

Wilson White briefed the prime minister on Google’s future plans for Pakistan. He said the establishment of a local office would reinforce Google’s commitment to accelerating Pakistan’s digital transformation.

He said Google would build on its existing partnerships to create long-term opportunities for Pakistani youth and help local businesses expand to global markets.

White also expressed satisfaction with the Chromebook assembly line established by Google in partnership with local stakeholders. He said there was significant potential for Chromebooks assembled in Pakistan to be exported to other countries in the region.

He said Google recognised the immense potential of Pakistan’s young population and was keen to expand skills-development programmes in information technology, artificial intelligence, gaming and other sectors.

Following the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Wilson White, US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker and other dignitaries jointly unveiled a plaque marking the opening of Google’s office in Pakistan.