Google Opens First Pakistan Office, Announces Free One-Year Gemini Access for Students
ISLAMABAD: Google has officially opened its first office in Pakistan and announced plans to provide Pakistani students with free one-year subscriptions to its Gemini AI service, marking a major development in the country’s growing digital and technology sector.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formally inaugurated Google’s new office during a meeting with Google Vice President Wilson White. US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker was also present at the occasion.
Welcoming the Google delegation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the company’s arrival comes at an important time as Pakistan continues its digital transformation across various sectors, including governance and technology.
The prime minister highlighted Pakistan’s large and growing youth population, saying young people have the potential to play a key role in transforming the country. He acknowledged that progress had been made in the digital sector but stressed that further efforts were needed to achieve Pakistan’s broader digital ambitions.
Google Highlights Investment in Pakistan
Google Vice President Wilson White thanked the prime minister and described his first visit to Pakistan and the opening of the company’s local office as a major milestone.
White said Google had been investing in Pakistan for more than a decade, adding that establishing a permanent office in the country represented a particularly significant step in the company’s relationship with Pakistan.
He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s ambition to transform Pakistan into a $30 billion IT export hub was closely aligned with Google’s objectives.
According to Wilson White, Google’s activities over the past decade have generated more than Rs3.9 trillion in economic activity for Pakistani businesses and households.
He further said the company’s efforts had supported more than 960,000 jobs in Pakistan.
Focus on Digital Skills
The Google vice president emphasized that Pakistan’s digital transformation would not be possible without adequate investment in its people and their skills.
He said Google had already helped strengthen the digital skills of more than one million Pakistanis through its Career Certificates programme and partnerships with schools.
These initiatives are aimed at helping young people acquire skills that can support employment, entrepreneurship and participation in the growing digital economy.
Free Gemini Subscription for Pakistani Students
One of the key announcements during the meeting was that Google plans to provide free one-year Gemini subscriptions to all Pakistani students.
Wilson White announced that the offer would be formally unveiled later this week. The initiative is expected to give students access to Google’s artificial intelligence tools and potentially support learning, research, productivity and other educational activities.
The announcement comes as artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important in education and the global technology industry.
The opening of Google’s first office in Pakistan, combined with the planned Gemini offer, signals an expanding focus on the country’s young population and its digital economy. It also reflects growing interest in developing Pakistan’s technology sector, improving digital skills and creating greater access to AI-powered tools.
