🇵🇰 Pakistan enters a new digital era! 💻

Pakistan has officially inaugurated its first-ever Google Chromebook assembly line, marking a “historic milestone” in the country’s journey toward digital advancement. The project, launched in Islamabad by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, represents a major step in making technology more accessible, affordable, and locally produced.

A Milestone for Pakistan’s Digital Future

Speaking at the ceremony, Ishaq Dar celebrated the collaboration between Google and Pakistan as a defining moment for national progress. He stated that local Chromebook production will make digital learning tools more widely available—especially within the education sector—and will pave the way for job creation, export growth, and skill development.

“Today, we celebrate a partnership that lays the foundation for Pakistan’s digital economy,” Dar said. “Local assembly means not just affordability, but empowerment through access to modern technology and training.”

Empowering Youth and Developers

Under a new strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU), Pakistan and Google will jointly train 100,000 software developers across the country, while launching specialized programs for the gaming and startup sectors.

Dar also announced plans to expand AI-powered local solutions, including Android-based public safety systems and 100,000 Google Career Certificates to help Pakistanis gain globally recognized tech credentials.

Google’s Local Office — A Sign of Confidence

Dar hailed Google’s decision to open a local office in Pakistan, calling it a “moment of national pride” and a strong signal of international investor confidence in the country’s innovation ecosystem.

“This move brings Google closer to Pakistan’s developers, entrepreneurs, and startups,” he said, emphasizing that the collaboration will boost capacity building, direct partnerships, and global visibility for local talent.

Government Leaders Applaud the Initiative

During the event, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja described the launch as a transformative step linking education, technology, and manufacturing. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to accelerating the country’s digital transformation.

Dar also praised Defence Production Minister Muhammad Raza Hayat and SIFC National Coordinator Lt Gen Sarfraz Ahmad for their contributions toward the success of this initiative.

From Vision to Reality

The Chromebook assembly project follows a 2024 partnership between Tech Valley (Google for Education’s country partner), National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC), and Australia-based Allied, who first proposed establishing the assembly line in Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Recently, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz met a delegation from Tech Valley, led by Kevin Kalis, to discuss setting up another Chromebook manufacturing facility in Punjab, aiming to expand Pakistan’s technology-driven education ecosystem.