Pakistan, Google sign MoU to light up $30bn digital roadmap

August 21, 2026 (MLN): The Government of Pakistan and Google signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)  to strengthen cooperation on digital skills, IT exports and innovation, which marks a significant step toward establishing a Google office in the country and expanding AI access for Pakistani students and institutions.

The MoU was signed at a ceremony in Islamabad by Secretary Ministry of Information Technology Zarar Hashim Khan and Google's Senior Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Southeast Asia, David Weller, in the presence of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, US Chargé d'Affaires Natalie Baker, and members of the Federal Cabinet, said a press release issued.

Under the agreement, Google will expand its Career Certificates programme in Pakistan, with a target of issuing 150,000 career certificates during the current year to promote digital skills among the youth.

The two sides also agreed to widen Pakistani students' access to Google's advanced artificial intelligence tools, including Google AI Plus and Gemini, free of cost, while jointly establishing an AI Centre of Excellence in Islamabad to train Pakistani human resources according to global market requirements.

The MoU further covers cooperation to enhance the global competitiveness of Pakistan's mobile applications and gaming industry, promote digital payments, and expand the scope of digital commerce in the country.

On the government side, the agreement provides for the use of AI-powered data analytics in the Federal Board of Revenue's digitization programme, along with the deployment of AI in agriculture for crop monitoring, forecasting and sustainable farming practices.

Digital platforms will also be leveraged to help small and medium-sized enterprises access global markets.

A joint task force comprising representatives of the government, Google and other relevant stakeholders will be constituted under the MoU to prepare a roadmap for enhancing Pakistan's IT exports and competitiveness, and to identify barriers and growth opportunities in the sector.

The two sides agreed to further expand opportunities for young people in digital skills, startups and the technology sector, in line with the Prime Minister's vision of raising Pakistan's IT exports and digital economy to $30 billion by 2030.

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