ISLAMABAD: Google has launched an initiative to produce 500,000 Chromebooks in Pakistan, presenting the first device to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at a ceremony on Thursday.
The event, titled 'Agay Barho: A Google for Pakistan,' highlighted Google's commitment to enhancing Pakistan's digital economy. A report by Access Partnership revealed that Pakistan's IT services exports have increased by 2.7 times since 2014, accounting for 35% of all service-sector exports in 2023.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is noted as a key factor in boosting exports and creating new market opportunities. The report suggests that mobile apps and online services could potentially add Rs1.8 trillion to Pakistan's annual export value by 2030.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the importance of empowering the youth in IT and set a target of $25 billion in IT exports over the next five years. He urged collaboration between IT experts and government to achieve this goal.
Google’s initiatives have reportedly created over 960,000 jobs for Pakistani youth in 2023. Google Pakistan's country director, Farhan S Qureshi, stated that AI tools contributed Rs3.9 trillion to the economy this year. The report also calls for investments in digital skills training to narrow the skills gap and enhance competitiveness.