Google Opens Pakistan Office, Announces Free Gemini for Students
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday met a Google delegation during the inauguration of the technology giant’s local office in Pakistan, describing the development as an important step toward strengthening cooperation and accelerating the country’s digital transformation.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad, PM Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan had significant potential to expand its partnership with Google across multiple sectors. He noted that the company’s arrival coincided with Pakistan’s ongoing digital transformation in governance and other areas.
The prime minister highlighted Pakistan’s young population, saying the country could transform its economic prospects by equipping its youth with modern technology and digital skills. He thanked Google for establishing a local presence and expressed hope that the partnership would contribute to a stronger technology ecosystem.
Google Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy Wilson L. White said the company had been investing in Pakistan for more than a decade and described the opening of its local office as a special moment.
White said Google’s objectives were aligned with Pakistan’s ambition to become a $30 billion IT export hub. He explained that the company planned to support this goal through investment in Pakistani talent, hardware manufacturing and infrastructure, and local businesses.
According to White, Google’s activities over the past decade have contributed more than Rs3.9 trillion in economic activity for Pakistani businesses and households and supported more than 960,000 jobs.
He said the company had also focused on developing digital skills in Pakistan. Through career certificates and collaboration with schools and teachers, Google has contributed to the upskilling of around one million Pakistanis, helping prepare them for the growing digital economy.
A major announcement highlighted during the ceremony was that Google would make Google Gemini subscriptions free for one year for all Pakistani students. The company is expected to formally announce the initiative later this week.
The development comes as Pakistan seeks to expand its IT exports, strengthen digital infrastructure and create greater opportunities for its young population.
The government has set an ambitious target of increasing IT exports to $30 billion, while technology companies are increasingly expanding their presence in the country.
Google has also been involved in hardware manufacturing initiatives in Pakistan. In 2025, the company, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence Production and the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation, began Chromebook manufacturing in Haripur through a public-private partnership with a local company.
The initiative was expected to support Pakistan’s technology manufacturing sector, with plans for approximately 600,000 Chromebooks to be manufactured annually.
The opening of Google’s Pakistan office and the new student-focused Gemini initiative are being viewed as further steps toward expanding digital skills, technology investment and economic opportunities in the country.
