ISLAMABAD, August 18: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday welcomed Google Vice President Wilson White and inaugurated the company’s office in Pakistan.
White said Google has invested in Pakistan and remained committed to the country for more than a decade.
Shehbaz Highlights Pakistan’s Digital Transformation
During a meeting with White and US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker, Prime Minister Shehbaz welcomed the Google delegation.
He said Google’s arrival came as Pakistan continued a major digital transformation across several areas of governance.
“It’s very interesting and sheer coincidence that you are here at a time when Pakistan is going through a major digital transformation in many areas of our governance,” Sharif said.
The prime minister also highlighted Pakistan’s young population. He said the country’s “youth bulge” could “really turn around Pakistan’s fortunes”.
Sharif added that Pakistan was doing a lot, but still had more work to do.
Google Backs Pakistan’s $30 Billion IT Goal
White thanked the prime minister for hosting the Google delegation.
He described his first visit to Pakistan and the opening of the local office as a “big milestone”. He also called it the culmination of “a very long time coming”.
“Google has been investing in and committed to Pakistan for over a decade,” White said. He added that opening a local office marked “a very special moment”.
White said Shehbaz Sharif’s goal of turning Pakistan into a $30 billion IT export hub aligned with Google’s objectives.
According to White, Google has contributed more than 3.9 trillion rupees in economic activity for Pakistani businesses and households over the past decade.
He said this contribution supported more than 960,000 jobs.
“This is just the beginning,” White said.
Google Plans Investment in Three Areas
White said Google would support Pakistan’s $30 billion IT export goal in three main ways.
These include investing in Pakistani people, supporting manufacturing and infrastructure for hardware exports, and investing in local businesses.
He said Pakistan’s digital transformation would need strong investment in its people to achieve the country’s ambitious target.
More Than One Million Pakistanis Upskilled
White said Google has helped more than one million Pakistanis develop new skills.
The company supported this effort through career certificates. It also worked with schools and teachers to help prepare Pakistanis for the digital economy.
White also shared another planned initiative. He said Google would announce later in the week that it would offer Google Gemini subscriptions free for one year to all students.
