ISLAMABAD: Students across Pakistan will get access to Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) tools as the government and the tech giant signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday aimed at accelerating digital transformation and fostering AI-driven innovation.
The agreement also seeks to boost Pakistan’s IT exports and overall digital economy to $30 billion by 2030.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif witnessed the signing of the MoU by Zarrar Hasham Khan, secretary of the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, and David Weller, Google’s head of Southeast Asia and South Asia public policy, at a reception hosted in honour of the visiting delegation.
The agreement features Google Career Certificates, Gemini access for students, the establishment of the Google AI Centre of Excellence, the development of mobile applications and gaming industry accelerators, the enhancement of digital payment ecosystems, and the digital transformation of government and sectoral AI.
Under the MoU, Google aims to provide 150,000 Google Career Certificates for Pakistani youth in 2026, equipping them with market-ready skills in high-demand fields. The company intends to explore expanding the programme in coming years to foster employment opportunities.
Google will also explore providing advanced AI tools, including at least one year of free access to Google AI Plus and Gemini Notebook, to support students across Pakistan in their academic and research pursuits. This aims to maximise their competitiveness and contribute to IT exports.
Both sides agreed to establish an AI Centre of Excellence in Islamabad to train Pakistani youth to meet international tech standards.
The event was also attended by Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja; Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb; Wilson White, Google Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy; US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker; and other senior officials.
On the occasion, PM Shehbaz said the agreement represented an important milestone in Pakistan’s partnership with Google.
He emphasised the timing of the agreement. “It’s very interesting that the delegation is here at a time when Pakistan is going through a major digital transformation in many areas, including governance,” the premier said. “We have a youth bulge, and we can really turn around Pakistan’s fortunes.”
Ms Khawaja noted the government’s efforts to modernise digital infrastructure, ease the process of doing business and expand the nation’s IT skills base.
Farhan Qureshi, Google cluster director for Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand, highlighted the company’s recent office inauguration in the country.
The MoU outlines several initiatives to translate the partnership into practical support for Pakistan’s digital economy, including the use of AI in government services, agriculture and other key sectors.
Under the prime minister’s Federal Board of Revenue transformation plan, Google will support the FBR in using AI to modernise public service delivery, streamline operations and accelerate the agency’s digital transformation.
Additionally, AI will be integrated into the agricultural sector for crop monitoring, yield forecasting and sustainable farming. Digital platforms will assist small and medium enterprises in expanding their global footprint.
Google and Pakistan also aim to support local app developers and gaming studios while strengthening the digital payments ecosystem and expanding digital trade.
A joint task force of government, Google and industry stakeholders will be formed to identify enablers for IT export growth. This includes an investment framework for hardware manufacturing, enhancing global market reach and upskilling human resources.
Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2026
