ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia’s GO Telecom has launched an artificial intelligence (AI) hub in Islamabad, aiming to strengthen collaboration in AI and data infrastructure, Pakistan’s Ministry of IT said in a statement on Saturday.
The initiative highlights the growing Saudi investment in Pakistan’s digital economy and follows a visit by IT and Telecommunications Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja to Saudi Arabia, where she discussed bilateral cooperation under Saudi Vision 2030 and Pakistan’s National AI Policy 2025.
During her visit, she met with GO Telecom Group CEO Yahya bin Saleh Al-Mansour in Riyadh to explore collaboration in digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and human capital development.
GO Telecom, a key player in Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation with a focus on cloud and data services, has been expanding its regional presence through partnerships with Oman’s Data Park and by acquiring a majority stake in Ejad Tech. The Islamabad-based AI hub represents GO Telecom’s first major technology initiative in Pakistan, signaling a broader push to diversify its international operations beyond the petroleum sector.
“In a landmark step toward advancing Pakistan–KSA digital collaboration, GO AI Hub, Pakistan, was inaugurated today in Islamabad through a joint initiative of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and KSA’s GO Telecom,” the IT ministry said in a statement.
The launch ceremony was attended by IT Minister Khawaja, GO Telecom CEO Al-Mansour, and senior officials from Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council.
The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) welcomed the launch of the AI hub this month, stating that the initiative will create new opportunities for Pakistani startups in areas such as training, innovation, and cross-border collaboration.
“This is an excellent initiative as it will provide Pakistani AI and telecommunications companies with access to the GO Telecom Group’s platform, enabling greater collaboration and growth opportunities,” P@SHA Chairman Sajjad Mustafa Syed had said.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have maintained strong bilateral relations, which in recent years have expanded to include broader areas of cooperation. During Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Riyadh in October 2024, the two countries signed 34 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) valued at $2.8 billion across various sectors.
Building on this momentum, both nations are now working to establish a strategic partnership in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
