Tech giant Google has announced a significant initiative to produce 500,000 Chromebooks in Pakistan, presenting the first locally manufactured device to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a ceremony on Thursday.
Event Highlights: “Agay Barho: A Google for Pakistan”
At the “Agay Barho: A Google for Pakistan” event, Google reaffirmed its commitment to fostering Pakistan’s digital economy. Access Partnership also unveiled a report titled “Agay Barho: Empowering Pakistan’s Digital Economy”, highlighting that despite ongoing economic challenges, Pakistan’s IT sector is emerging as a crucial driver of economic recovery and growth.
Key Report Insights:
| Metric | Growth/Details |
|---|---|
| IT services exports growth | 2.7 times since 2014 |
| IT sector share in service exports | 35% in 2023 |
| Economic contribution from digital technologies by 2030 | Rs1.8 trillion from mobile apps, online videos, cross-border e-commerce |
The report emphasized the potential for Pakistan to expand its digital exports, particularly through the development of innovative digital solutions, cost reduction in accessing global markets, and increased efficiency in the export process.
Key Attendees and Contributions
The event was attended by notable figures, including Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, and various other officials. Google Asia Pacific President Scott Beaumont presented the Chromebook to the prime minister.
Government’s Vision for IT and Digital Growth
During his speech, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Google’s global and local contributions and highlighted the capacity of Pakistan’s youth in the IT sector. He reiterated the government’s goal to increase IT exports to $25 billion within five years, calling on IT experts to devise strategies for promoting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and freelancers.
The prime minister also emphasized the need for a digitized and paperless governance system, which he believes will reduce corruption and enhance efficiency.
Government IT Export Target:
| Target | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| $25 billion IT exports | Next 5 years |
Digital Economy’s Potential
Speaking at the event, IT Minister Shaza Fatima applauded Google for its role in driving Pakistan’s digital economy. She stated, “By collaborating, both the public and private sectors can unlock Pakistan’s full potential in the digital age.” She also noted that Google provided over 960,000 jobs to Pakistani youth in 2023 alone.
Farhan S. Qureshi, Google Pakistan’s country director, shared further insights: “In 2023 alone, Google’s AI-powered tools contributed Rs3.9 trillion to Pakistan’s economy.”
Google’s Contributions to Pakistan in 2023:
| Contribution | Value |
|---|---|
| Jobs provided to Pakistani youth | 960,000 |
| Contribution of AI-powered tools to economy | Rs3.9 trillion |
Google’s collaboration with Tech Valley, Allied, and NRTC to manufacture 500,000 Chromebooks locally was a key highlight of the event.
Future Outlook
The report underscored the necessity of investing in digital skills training to maintain competitiveness and take advantage of the expanding digital economy. By narrowing the digital skills gap, Pakistan could add Rs2.8 trillion to its GDP by 2030.
Digital Skills Development Projection:
| Potential Economic Contribution | Year |
|---|---|
| Rs2.8 trillion | By 2030 |
Google Delegation Meets Prime Minister
A separate meeting between a Google delegation, led by Scott Beaumont, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif further solidified Google’s commitment to Pakistan. During the meeting, the prime minister shared the government’s efforts to digitize the economy, improve the IT infrastructure, and support youth training programs.
Prime Minister Shehbaz noted that Google has helped create close to 1 million jobs for Pakistani youth, reflecting Pakistan’s potential in the digital sector. Beaumont, in turn, assured the government of Google’s continued investments in Pakistan, focusing on youth skill development and broader collaboration in the technology sector.
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