ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Google have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at accelerating the country’s digital transformation, expanding technology exports and strengthening innovation, with Pakistani students set to receive free access to advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools for one year.
The agreement was signed on Friday during a reception hosted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in honour of a Google delegation at the Prime Minister’s House, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The MOU aims to strengthen cooperation in Pakistan on digital skills, IT exports and innovation, while Google has set a target of issuing 150,000 career certificates in the country in 2026. Pakistan and Google have also agreed to expand Pakistani students’ access to advanced AI… pic.twitter.com/oeZjodugBY
— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) August 21, 2026
Under the agreement, Pakistan and Google will broaden cooperation in digital skills, information technology exports, innovation and the adoption of AI across key sectors of the economy.
150,000 Google certificates targeted
The two sides agreed to expand the Google Career Certificates programme to help young Pakistanis develop job-ready digital skills. Google has set a target of providing 150,000 certificates in Pakistan during 2026. A key component of the agreement is increased access to AI tools for students.
The PMO said Pakistani students would receive free access for one year to advanced AI tools, including Google AI Plus and Gemini, giving them greater opportunities to use AI for education, research and skills development.
Pakistan and Google also agreed to cooperate on establishing an AI centre of excellence in Islamabad. The proposed centre will focus on training young people and developing human resources in line with the evolving requirements of the global technology market.
AI to support government, agriculture
The agreement also envisages greater use of AI in public-sector services. According to the PMO, Pakistan and Google will work together to use AI to improve public service delivery and make government operations more efficient. AI-powered data analytics will also be incorporated into the Federal Board of Revenue’s digitisation programme, the PMO said.
READ ALSO: Pakistan Starts Local Assembly of Google Chromebooks
The two sides further agreed to explore the use of AI in agriculture, including crop monitoring, forecasting and the promotion of sustainable farming practices.
Digital platforms will also be used to help small and medium-sized enterprises gain access to international markets and expand their business opportunities.
Focus on IT exports and digital economy
The agreement places particular emphasis on strengthening Pakistan’s technology sector and improving its competitiveness in international markets.
Pakistan and Google will cooperate to enhance the global competitiveness of the country’s mobile applications and gaming industry, promote digital payments and expand digital commerce.
A joint task force comprising government representatives, Google and other relevant stakeholders will also be established to develop a roadmap for Pakistan’s IT exports and competitiveness.
The task force will identify obstacles affecting IT exports as well as potential areas for growth, according to the PMO. The government said the broader cooperation would create additional opportunities for young people in digital skills, startups and the technology sector.
READ ALSO: Google Opens First Office in Pakistan, Marking New Era of Digital Partnership
The PMO described the agreement as an important step towards Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s goal of increasing Pakistan’s IT exports and digital economy to $30 billion by 2030. It said cooperation with Google would help lay the foundation for a new phase of digital transformation and innovation in Pakistan.
Google expands presence in Pakistan
The agreement comes days after Google announced a $500,000 investment to help Pakistani families use the internet more safely.
The funding, committed through Google.org, will support the Digital Pasban initiative, which aims to provide 200,000 households with Urdu-language digital safety toolkits, educational videos and parental workshops.
Google has also strengthened its physical presence in Pakistan with the opening of a local office in Karachi earlier this week.
The US technology company inaugurated the office on Tuesday, nearly four years after it first registered its operations in Pakistan, describing the move as a significant milestone in its long-term engagement with the country.
