Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Shiza Fatima Khawaja, announced that the global technology company Google has completed its registration in Pakistan and will soon establish its first office in the country. Simultaneously, the local manufacturing of Google Chromebooks has officially begun in Haripur.
Addressing a press conference, the Minister stated that Google has entered Pakistan and is set to commence formal operations after registration.
She confirmed that the local assembly line for Chromebooks in Haripur has started operations.
According to Shiza Fatima, an estimated 500,000 to 600,000 Chromebooks will be manufactured annually in Pakistan. This initiative is expected to facilitate technology transfer, promote modern operating practices, and create direct employment opportunities.
She said the government’s objective is to export these Chromebooks internationally in the future and to further expand the assembly line.
The assembly line, established on November 4, was set up in collaboration with Google for Education’s local partner Tech Valley, the National Research and Technology Corporation (NRTC), and the Australian company Allied. Operations are currently underway in Haripur district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has previously stated that the local manufacturing of IT products will not only reduce costs but also strengthen the country’s foreign exchange reserves through the development of the export-oriented tech sector.
AI and Digital Initiatives
The Federal Minister confirmed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Google and the Ministry of IT has been finalized, under which Artificial Intelligence (AI) training will be provided to young people. She also mentioned that discussions are ongoing regarding the establishment of AI laboratories in Pakistan with Google.
Regarding Meta, Shiza Fatima revealed that Meta Llama has been launched in Urdu, a facility provided only to a few countries. Pakistan received this feature due to strong collaboration with the company. Llama is a series of Large Language Models capable of understanding and generating human-like text.
She further announced that TikTok’s STEM Feed has been activated in Pakistan, allowing users free access to educational content related to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). This step will promote the positive and beneficial use of TikTok as an educational platform.
Shiza Fatima also stated that the Saudi company Go Telecom has established an AI Hub in Pakistan. This hub will serve as a platform to connect Saudi companies seeking technology services with Pakistani IT firms and freelancers. This move will allow Pakistani IT experts to access the Saudi market without the need for a physical office, increasing employment, exports, and business opportunities.
