Google to Produce 500,000 Chromebooks in Pakistan by 2026

Pakistan Targets $25 Billion IT exports in Five Years

Tech giant Google has announced plans to produce 500,000 Chromebooks in Pakistan by 2026. The announcement was marked by the presentation of the first locally manufactured Chromebook to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a ceremony on Thursday.

At the “Agay Barho: A Google for Pakistan Event,” Scott Beaumont, President of Google Asia Pacific, handed over the Chromebook to the prime minister. In his address, PM Sharif lauded Google’s global and local contributions, emphasizing the potential of Pakistan’s young generation in the Information Technology sector.

The prime minister highlighted the importance of leveraging IT for economic development and set a target of $25 billion in IT exports over the next five years, calling it an achievable goal. He urged IT experts and entrepreneurs to contribute plans to meet this target and to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and freelancers.

PM Sharif also committed to making the country’s governance system fully paperless and digitized to combat corruption.

During the event, Access Partnership released a report titled “Agay Barho: Empowering Pakistan’s Digital Economy,” which outlines Pakistan’s IT industry as a key driver of economic recovery despite challenges. The report noted that IT services exports have grown 2.7 times since 2014, making up 35% of all service-sector exports in 2023. It also highlighted the role of digital technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), in enhancing exports and creating new market opportunities.

The report suggested that mobile apps, online video services, and cross-border e-commerce could potentially add Rs1.8 trillion to Pakistan’s annual export value by 2030. It emphasized the need for investment in digital skills training and education to close the skills gap and enhance competitiveness, potentially adding Rs2.8 trillion to Pakistan’s GDP by 2030.

The event was attended by several key officials, including Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal. Minister Khawaja praised Google’s role in advancing the country’s digital economy and highlighted the impact of Google’s initiatives, including the creation of over 960,000 jobs for Pakistani youths in 2023.

Farhan S Qureshi, Google Pakistan’s country director, noted that Google’s AI-powered tools contributed Rs3.9 trillion to the Pakistani economy in 2023. He expressed pride in the local production of Chromebooks and emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s digital economy.

Separately, a four-member Google delegation led by Scott Beaumont met with PM Sharif. The prime minister discussed the government’s plans to achieve the $25 billion IT export target and the allocation of funds for youth training, IT infrastructure, and regulatory improvements. Beaumont assured that Google plans to increase its investment in Pakistan and support the government’s youth skills training initiatives.

The prime minister commended Google for its significant impact on improving the lives of thousands of Pakistanis and its role in upskilling the youth.