ISLAMABAD (MNN); Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday inaugurated Google Pakistan’s new office in Islamabad, describing the development as an important step towards strengthening cooperation between Pakistan and the global technology giant.
Speaking during a meeting with Google Vice President, Global Affairs Wilson L White, the prime minister said there was significant potential for a broader and mutually beneficial partnership with Google, adding that relations could be expanded in several areas. US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker was also present.
“Google is a household name not only in Pakistan but around the globe,” the prime minister said, noting that the company’s arrival in Pakistan coincided with the country’s ongoing digital transformation in governance and other sectors.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said Pakistan’s large young population represented a major opportunity for the country to transform its economic prospects through technology and digital skills.
“We have a youth bulge, and we can really turn around Pakistan’s fortune,” he said.
Google Vice President Wilson L White described the opening of the company’s local office as a major milestone, saying Google had been investing in and supporting Pakistan for more than a decade.
He said Google’s presence in Pakistan was closely aligned with the prime minister’s ambition of transforming the country into a $30 billion IT export hub.
According to Wilson, Google’s activities over the past decade had contributed more than Rs3.9 trillion in economic activity for Pakistani businesses and households and supported more than 960,000 jobs.
He said Google would further support Pakistan’s IT export ambitions through three major areas: investing in Pakistani talent, expanding hardware manufacturing and export infrastructure, and supporting local businesses.
Regarding investment in human capital, Wilson said digital transformation could not succeed without developing local talent. He said Google had already helped upskill more than one million Pakistanis and announced that Google Gemini would be made available free of charge to students for one year.
He also highlighted Google’s commitment to manufacturing and infrastructure, noting that the company viewed Pakistan as an important market with considerable potential for technology-led growth.
The opening of the Islamabad office follows Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate the formal presence of major international technology companies. In November 2025, Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja had announced that Google had completed its registration in Pakistan and would establish a local office. She had also noted that manufacturing of Google Chromebooks had begun in Haripur.
The inauguration marks a significant development in Pakistan’s efforts to expand its digital economy, promote technology exports, develop a skilled workforce and attract international investment in the IT sector.
