ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan and Google have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at advancing the country’s digital economy and innovation sector, with a focus on artificial intelligence and digital skills development. The signing ceremony, which took place in Islamabad, was attended by prominent officials, including Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and US Chargé d’Affaires, Natalie Baker.

According to Radio Pakistan, Secretary Ministry of Information Technology Zarar Hashim Khan and Google’s Senior Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Southeast Asia, David Weller, formalized the agreement. The MoU signifies a milestone in the establishment of a Google office in Pakistan and lays the groundwork for a collaborative effort to enhance digital transformation efforts.

Key elements of the agreement include the expansion of the Google Career Certificates program, with a goal to issue 150,000 certificates in Pakistan this year. Additionally, the partnership aims to provide Pakistani students with access to Google’s advanced AI tools at no cost, while also establishing an AI center of excellence in Islamabad to train local youth.

The MoU further outlines cooperation in boosting the global competitiveness of Pakistan’s mobile applications and gaming industry, promoting digital payment systems, and expanding digital commerce. AI applications will also be deployed to improve public service delivery and enhance the efficiency of government operations, including the Federal Board of Revenue’s digitization program.

AI will also be utilized in the agricultural sector for crop monitoring and sustainable practices. Moreover, digital platforms will be leveraged to assist small and medium-sized enterprises in accessing global markets. A task force will be formed to identify barriers and growth opportunities in Pakistan’s IT exports, aligning with the Prime Minister’s vision to elevate the country’s IT exports and digital economy to $30 billion by 2030.