A 9-member delegation of Google, led by Mr. Wilson White, Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Policy, called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad today. H.E. Ms. Natalie Baker, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, also accompanied the delegation.
Welcoming the delegation, the Prime Minister said Pakistan is undergoing a major digital transformation of governance, including the digitization of the economy. He shared the government’s vision of “Digital Nation Pakistan” and informed the delegation that several initiatives to develop the national digital ecosystem are at an advanced stage of implementation.
The Prime Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to upgrading IT infrastructure and briefed the delegation on ongoing programs for training youth in IT and Artificial Intelligence. He emphasized the importance of collaboration with a global technology leader like Google in achieving these objectives.
The Prime Minister welcomed Google’s decision to open an office in Pakistan, noting that it would further strengthen the country’s partnership with the company. He appreciated Google’s role in advancing Pakistan’s digital economy and lauded its initiatives that have enabled thousands of Pakistani youth to secure productive employment. Highlighting the potential of Pakistan’s youth in the digital space, the Prime Minister expressed hope that Google would further expand its footprint to upskilling and empowering them. He added that with Google’s local presence now established, high-impact programs could be scaled up further.
Mr. Wilson White briefed the Prime Minister on Google’s future plans. He said the local office would deepen Google’s commitment to accelerating Pakistan’s digital transformation and build on years of existing partnership to create long-term opportunities for Pakistani youth and help local businesses go global. Expressing satisfaction over the ongoing Chromebook assembly line established by Google with local partners, Mr. White noted strong potential for Chromebooks assembled in Pakistan to be exported to other countries in the region. He stated that Google recognizes the immense potential of Pakistan’s young population and is keen to expand upskilling programs in IT, AI, gaming, and other areas.
The Prime Minister, Mr. Wilson White, Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker, and other dignitaries jointly unveiled a plaque to mark the inauguration of Google’s office in Pakistan.
