ISLAMABAD (special crosspondent) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff, General Syed Asim Munir, have jointly inaugurated the Sky47 Karakorum-01 Data Centre in a ceremony marking a significant milestone for the nation’s technological landscape. During the event, the Prime Minister lauded the establishment of this state-of-the-art facility as a transformative achievement that will serve as a cornerstone for Pakistan’s future digital economy and technological advancement.

Highlighting the strategic importance of the facility, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the leadership of General Syed Asim Munir and the project teams for their dedication and foresight. He noted that the successful launch of the data centre underscores the national capability to overcome significant challenges through unity and steadfast determination. The Prime Minister remarked that the country is poised to emerge as a progressive, forward-looking nation by effectively leveraging such technological infrastructure.

Advancing Digital Infrastructure

Reflecting on national achievements, the Prime Minister described the project as a testament to the fact that commitment invariably leads to progress. He called for all state institutions to align their operations with the new data centre to maximize its capabilities. Furthermore, the Prime Minister acknowledged the collaborative efforts of ZTE, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, and other key stakeholders involved in the project’s execution.

The Sky47 Karakorum-01 Data Centre boasts an 8.5-megawatt capacity, with the government planning to replicate this model in Karachi and Lahore to further bolster the national digital framework. This facility stands as Pakistan’s largest carrier-neutral and AI-ready digital infrastructure platform, purpose-built to meet international standards.

Sovereignty and AI Readiness

Designed to support high-performance computing, the data centre is capable of managing the most demanding artificial intelligence workloads domestically. It features sovereign cloud architecture and comprehensive enterprise-grade security, ensuring that critical national data remains protected and compliant within the country’s borders. This initiative is expected to reinforce Pakistan’s digital sovereignty, enhance national resilience, and significantly accelerate the pace of digital transformation across the state sector.