Google to open office in Pakistan, announces Finance Minister

ISLAMABAD: Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday announced that Google will open an office in Pakistan, adding that Google executives expressed a strong interest in helping Pakistan build a digital ecosystem.

Addressing the inaugural session of The Future Summit, 9th Edition in Karachi, he outlined the government’s commitment to structural reforms, fiscal discipline, and strategic partnerships to redefine the country’s economic direction.

He welcomed Google’s decision to open an office in Pakistan, calling it a significant step toward transforming the country into a regional information technology hub.

He emphasized the need to equip youth with digital and technical skills to help them capture higher-value opportunities in coding, blockchain, and AI-driven sectors.

Aurangzeb highlighted that over the past one and a half years, the government has been actively implementing reforms in taxation, energy, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), privatization, and public finance.

He noted that the new $14.5 million investment arriving in Pakistan is particularly significant, sending a message to all stakeholders to stay together for sustained progress.

The finance minister underscored that population growth and climate change are two major challenges for Pakistan, urging immediate attention to the population issue.

Earlier on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar launched Pakistan’s first Google Chromebook assembly line and hailed it as a historic milestone that would make digital tools more accessible.

“Today marks a historic milestone in that journey as we celebrate the invaluable partnership between Google and Pakistan,” Dar said while addressing a ceremony marking the launch in Islamabad.

Terming the move a “defining moment for our country’s digital transformation”, the deputy PM said localising the assembly of Chromebooks would make access to digital tools more affordable and inclusive, particularly in the education sector.