Islamabad (Web Desk): The Government of Pakistan and Google have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing the country’s digital transformation, fostering innovation and expanding cooperation in the technology sector.
The agreement was signed in Islamabad on Friday by Secretary of the Ministry of Information Technology Zarar Hashim Khan and David Weller, Google’s Senior Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Southeast Asia.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker and members of the federal cabinet attended the ceremony and witnessed the signing.
The agreement marks an important step towards establishing a formal Google presence in Pakistan and is expected to open a new chapter of collaboration in digital technology and innovation.
Under the MoU, Pakistan and Google will work together in areas including digital skills development, growth in IT exports and technological innovation.
A major focus will be the expansion of Google Career Certificates, with the company setting a goal of providing 150,000 career certificates to people in Pakistan during the current year.
The partnership will also broaden Pakistani students’ access to advanced artificial intelligence resources.
As part of the initiative, students will be able to use Google’s advanced AI offerings, including Google AI Plus and Gemini, without charge.
Pakistan and Google have also agreed to collaborate on the creation of an AI Centre of Excellence in Islamabad.
The proposed centre will focus on developing the skills of Pakistani youth and preparing the country’s human resources to meet the demands of the international job market.
The agreement also covers efforts to improve the international competitiveness of Pakistan’s mobile application and gaming sectors.
Both sides will work to encourage digital payment systems and support the wider adoption of digital commerce across the country.
AI will also be explored as a tool for improving the delivery of public services and increasing the efficiency of government operations.
Under the agreement, AI-based data analysis will be incorporated into the Federal Board of Revenue’s ongoing digitisation efforts.
The collaboration will extend to the agriculture sector as well, where AI technologies could be used for monitoring crops, predicting agricultural trends and supporting more sustainable farming methods.
Digital platforms will also be utilised to help small and medium-sized businesses connect with customers and markets around the world.
To support Pakistan’s ambitions for stronger IT exports and greater competitiveness, the government, Google and other relevant stakeholders will form a dedicated task force.
The body will develop a roadmap for the country’s IT export sector while examining existing obstacles and identifying areas with potential for future growth.
The partnership will further seek to create more opportunities for young Pakistanis by expanding cooperation in digital skills, startups and the broader technology industry.
The government views the agreement as a significant step towards achieving PM Shehbaz Sharif’s target of expanding Pakistan’s IT exports and growing the country’s digital economy to $30 billion by 2030.