PM Shehbaz, Field Marshal Asim Munir inaugurate Sky47 Karakorum-01 Data Centre

Rawalpindi (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, on Friday jointly inaugurated the Sky47 Karakorum-01 Data Centre in Rawalpindi, marking the launch of a major digital infrastructure project aimed at advancing Pakistan's technological capabilities.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the prime minister called the new facility a landmark accomplishment for the country and said it would serve as a key driver of Pakistan's digital transformation while supporting its long-term technological ambitions.

PM Shehbaz acknowledged the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and praised everyone involved in bringing the project to completion, saying their vision, dedication and tireless efforts had turned the initiative into reality.

He said the successful delivery of the project proved that Pakistan could overcome obstacles and achieve ambitious national objectives when institutions worked together with determination and a shared sense of purpose.

Expressing optimism about the country's future, he said Pakistan is well positioned to move beyond past challenges and build a modern, innovative and prosperous nation.

Referring to Marka-e-Haq, PM Shehbaz described it as one of the most significant chapters in Pakistan's history, saying it reflected the nation's resolve and demonstrated that strong commitment could pave the way for extraordinary achievements.

He emphasised that projects such as the Sky47 Data Centre represented the direction in which Pakistan must move and urged all government institutions to connect with the facility so they could fully utilise its advanced digital capabilities.

The prime minister also thanked ZTE, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, and every organisation that contributed to the planning and successful completion of the project.

Highlighting the facility's capabilities, he said the data centre has an installed capacity of 8.5 megawatts and announced that similar centres would also be established in Karachi and Lahore to expand Pakistan's digital infrastructure network.

Sky47 is Pakistan's largest carrier-neutral, AI-ready digital infrastructure platform, developed in accordance with international standards.

It has been specifically designed to deliver scalable, high-performance computing resources capable of handling complex artificial intelligence applications and demanding digital workloads within the country.

The facility is equipped with sovereign cloud architecture and robust enterprise-level security systems, ensuring that sensitive national data remains protected, compliant with regulatory requirements and securely stored inside Pakistan.

Officials said the new data centre will strengthen Pakistan's digital sovereignty, improve national resilience and accelerate the country's transition towards a technology-driven economy.

The project also reflects Pakistan's broader commitment to developing world-class digital infrastructure capable of meeting future technological and innovation needs.