Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with a four-member Google delegation led by Scott Beaumont, President of the Asia-Pacific region, to discuss the digital transformation of Pakistan’s economy. During the meeting, the Prime Minister applauded Google for its initiatives that have positively impacted thousands of Pakistanis, highlighting the company’s significant role in creating nearly one million jobs in 2023.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Prime Minister Sharif expressed optimism about Pakistan’s digital future and shared the government’s ambition to increase IT exports to 25 billion dollars within the next five years. He outlined plans for the allocation of funds for youth training, enhancements in IT infrastructure, and improvements in the regulatory environment to facilitate this growth.

The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of fully digitizing Pakistan’s economy and expressed his confidence in Google’s continued collaboration. He remarked on the transformative potential that lies ahead and noted the pivotal role that technological giants like Google can play in this transition.

Scott Beaumont, speaking at the event, reaffirmed Google’s commitment to expanding its investment in Pakistan. He announced plans to manufacture 500,000 Chromebooks locally by 2026, an initiative expected to significantly boost the country’s IT industry and support government efforts in skill development for the youth.

The meeting underscores a significant step towards enhancing Pakistan’s digital landscape and its integration into the global digital economy.