Google's first local office inaugurated in Pakistan

US technology giant Google on Tuesday opened its local office in Pakistan, marking a new phase in its engagement with the country.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the office alongside Google Global Affairs Vice President Wilson L. White during a ceremony in Islamabad. Earlier, Shehbaz met a Google delegation led by White at the Prime Minister’s House. US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker also attended the meeting.

The prime minister said that Pakistan’s ongoing digital transformation offered significant opportunities for cooperation with Google and could help strengthen bilateral ties.

“Pakistan is going through a major digital transformation,” he said, highlighting the country’s young population and the potential to use technology to improve governance and economic prospects.

White described the opening of the office as a “big milestone”, saying Google had been investing in and supporting Pakistan for more than a decade.

He welcomed the government’s ambition to develop Pakistan into a $30 billion IT export hub and said Google would support that goal through investment in Pakistani talent, manufacturing and infrastructure for hardware exports, and local businesses.

Shehbaz termed the establishment of the office a “stepping stone” towards a long-term partnership between Pakistan and Google.