Gov of Pakistan partners with Google to launch first Chromebook Assembly Line

November 04, 2025 (MLN): The Government of Pakistan, in collaboration with Google, has launched the country’s first Chromebook Assembly Line and shared plans for Google’s expanded local presence in Pakistan, an achievement marking a new chapter in the nation’s digital and industrial advancement.

The initiative was inaugurated by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar at the Prime Minister’s House Auditorium, with participation from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MOITT), the Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP), and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), alongside Google’s local partner, Tech Valley, said a press release issued today.

The ceremony was attended by senior government officials, including Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Defence Production Minister Raza Hayat Harraj, Board of Investment Minister Qaiser Sheikh, and Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat. Also present were Natalie Baker, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy, and Kevin Kells, Managing Director of Google for Education, along with representatives from Google, Tech Valley, Allied Australia, and NRTC.

Located at NRTC’s Haripur facility, the Chromebook Assembly Line will produce up to 500,000 Chromebooks annually by 2026, marking Pakistan’s transition from software innovation to local hardware production.

The project aims to deliver affordable, secure, and locally assembled Chromebooks for the education and public sectors helping bridge the digital divide, create employment opportunities, and empower Pakistan’s youth with modern digital tools.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said on the occasion, “Google’s decision to deepen its local presence in Pakistan is a moment of national pride and a strong endorsement of our country’s digital potential. This milestone strengthens Pakistan’s innovation ecosystem and boosts global investor confidence in our rapidly evolving technology landscape.”

IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja described the project as a “defining moment in Pakistan’s digital transformation,” emphasizing its role in realizing the Prime Minister’s Digital Nation Vision and the National AI Policy.

Defence Production Minister Raza Hayat Harraj commended NRTC’s contribution, stating that the initiative would “stimulate the local economy, create jobs, and enhance industrial capacity.”

Google Pakistan Country Director Farhan Qureshi added,“We’re excited to deepen our investments in people, skills, and innovation to help build an inclusive digital future for Pakistan in this AI-powered era.”

Experts estimate that Pakistan’s growing digital ecosystem supported by initiatives like the Chromebook Assembly Line and Google’s local expansion could add $6.6 billion (Rs1.8 trillion) in export value by 2030.

The partnership emphasizes global confidence in Pakistan’s innovation landscape and aligns with the national goal of building a Future-Forward, AI-Enabled Digital Nation one that empowers youth, drives industrial growth, and positions Pakistan as a regional technology hub.

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