ISLAMABAD: Google will manufacture around 600,000 Chromebooks annually in Pakistan, a major milestone for the country’s technology and education sectors, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on Saturday.
Speaking to the media, Khawaja said Google has completed its registration in Pakistan and plans to open its local office soon.
“Such high-tech ventures reflect global companies’ growing confidence in Pakistan’s economy, while promoting technology transfer, international best practices, and job creation,” she said.
Minister Khawaja said that Google, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence Production and the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC), has begun Chromebook manufacturing in Haripur.
The project is a public-private partnership with a local company and is expected to boost Pakistan’s IT manufacturing industry.
The initiative aims to provide affordable, high-quality devices, particularly for students and the education sector.
During her visit to the Haripur facility, the minister noted that around 600 young men and women are currently employed there.
She added that as production expands, the assembly line will create more jobs and enable Chromebook exports.
Youth Training and AI Labs
The minister said the Ministry of IT has finalised a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Google to provide technology training for youth, especially girls, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI).
“We plan to open AI labs in Pakistan in collaboration with Google, particularly targeting secondary schools to integrate AI education into the curriculum,” she said.
Provincial education authorities in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are actively supporting the initiative.
Minister Khawaja also highlighted Meta’s recent regional training for federal and private media teams on misinformation and disinformation.
She noted that Meta’s AI platform is now available in Urdu, allowing students to learn and experiment in their national language.
TikTok has launched a dedicated STEM feed in Pakistan, providing free educational content in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to students and underprivileged communities.
“These partnerships with global tech leaders highlight the immense potential of our youth, who are not only hardworking but also innovative and entrepreneurial,” Khawaja said.
Collaboration with Saudi Arabia
IT Minister Khawaja emphasised growing collaboration with Saudi Arabia in technology and AI.
Saudi Arabia’s GO Telecommunications Group has launched an AI hub in Pakistan, connecting local tech companies with Saudi firms.
Pakistani freelancers, small businesses, and micro-companies can provide technology services remotely without a physical presence in Saudi Arabia. Saudi companies are also establishing offshoring offices in Pakistan, generating employment and boosting exports.
She acknowledged the role of the Special Economic and Investment Facilitation Council (SEIFC), established in 2022, for streamlining bureaucratic processes and facilitating global investment in Pakistan’s tech sector.
Chromebook Assembly Line in Pakistan
On Tuesday, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar inaugurated the country’s first Google Chromebook assembly line, describing it as a “historic milestone” that will make digital tools more accessible.
Dar said the local assembly line will lay the foundation for jobs, supply chain development, and future tech exports.
Under a strategic MoU, Google and Pakistan will collaborate to train 100,000 developers nationwide and develop targeted programmes for the gaming and startup industries.
The partnership will also advance localised AI-powered solutions and provide 100,000 Google Careers certificates to equip Pakistanis with internationally recognised digital skills.
Dar said Google’s local office represents both national pride and a strategic milestone for Pakistan’s digital economy.
He praised Defence Production Minister Muhammad Raza Hayat and SEIFC National Coordinator Lt Gen Sarfraz Ahmad for their contributions.
Manufacturing and Educational Infrastructure
The initiative, first announced in June last year by Google for Education partner Tech Valley, NRTC, and Australian manufacturer Allied, aims to strengthen Pakistan’s IT infrastructure and technology-driven education.
Yesterday, a Tech Valley delegation led by Kevin Kalis met Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz in Lahore, pledging support to establish a Chromebook manufacturing factory in Punjab.
Minister Khawaja said the government is committed to advancing Pakistan’s digital journey, combining technology, manufacturing, and education to equip the next generation for a tech-driven future.
