Pakistan, Google Sign MoU to Offer Free Gemini AI Plus to Students, 150,000 Career Certificates in 2026

ISLAMABAD, Aug 21: The Government of Pakistan and Google have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate the country’s digital transformation, expand digital skills and promote artificial intelligence-driven innovation, with the aim of increasing Pakistan’s IT exports and digital economy to $30 billion by 2030.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif witnessed the signing ceremony at a special reception hosted in honour of the visiting Google leadership delegation. Minister for IT and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Google Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Policy Wilson White, US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker and senior officials attended the ceremony.

Under the MoU, Google aims to provide 150,000 Google Career Certificates to Pakistani youth in 2026, equipping them with market-ready skills in high-demand technical fields.

Google will also explore providing advanced AI tools, including one-year free access to Google AI Plus and Gemini Notebook, to Pakistani students to support their academic and research activities and enhance their competitiveness in the global digital economy.

The agreement also provides for establishing a dedicated Google AI Centre of Excellence in Islamabad to train Pakistani youth and human resources according to international technology market standards.

The MoU includes cooperation in mobile application development and gaming industry accelerators, strengthening the digital payments ecosystem, expanding digital trade and supporting local app developers and gaming studios.

Under the Prime Minister’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) transformation plan, Google will support the FBR in using AI to modernize public service delivery, streamline government operations and accelerate its digital transformation.

AI will also be integrated into the agriculture sector for crop monitoring, yield forecasting and sustainable farming, while digital platforms will help small and medium enterprises expand their presence in international markets.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the partnership with Google would help empower Pakistani youth with modern tools, technology and skills and contribute to the country’s ongoing digital transformation.

Minister for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the government had been working to modernize Pakistan’s digital infrastructure, facilitate businesses and expand the country’s IT skills base and human resource capacity.

Google Cluster Director for Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand Farhan Qureshi said the partnership would help unlock Pakistan’s digital potential and empower the next generation of talent, while supporting the country’s goal of building a $30 billion digital economy.

A joint task force comprising representatives of the government, Google and key industry stakeholders will also be established to identify barriers and opportunities for IT export growth, including investment in hardware manufacturing and services, access to global markets and human resource development.