Pakistan, google sign “historic” MOU

By Umar Mujtaba

Islamabad: Pakistan and Google have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital skills, IT exports and innovation, with Pakistani students set to receive free one year access to advanced AI tools including Gemini.

The agreement was signed on Friday during a reception hosted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in honour of the Google team, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Under the agreement, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) centre of excellence will be established in Islamabad for the training of young people and professionals to align their skills with global market requirements.

This news comes days after Google opened its first office in Pakistan, which signals the company’s interest in Pakistan’s technology sector.

Pakistani students will also receive one year of free google AI tools access, including gemini and google AI plus. 

Both sides have agreed to expand google certificate to 150,000 in 2026, helping Pakistani youth with market oriented skills. 

A joint taskforce will also be established to increase the country’s IT exports and improve the country’s competitiveness in the global technology sector. 

The agreement also covers efforts to improve the global competitiveness of Pakistan’s mobile application and gaming industries, while promoting digital payments and expanding digital commerce.

One of the areas identified for cooperation is the Federal Board of Revenue’s digitization program, where AI powered data analytics could be used to improve tax administration and public-sector efficiency.

In agriculture, Pakistan and Google will explore AI applications for crop monitoring, forecasting and sustainable farming practices. The agreement also aims to use digital platforms to help Pakistani small and medium sized enterprises access international markets and expand their exports.

The Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif described the collaboration as a stepping stone toward contributing to a field that is “very attractive” and “the call of the day.” 

Mr Sharif noted that the delegation’s arrival was “a sheer coincidence” because it comes precisely as the country is undergoing a major digital transformation of governance under the government’s “Digital Nation Pakistan” initiative. 

Wilson L. White (Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Policy) described the $30 Billion Export Target by stating “Your ambition of making Pakistan a 30-billion-dollar IT export hub aligns with the goals that we have at Google.”