Google to produce 500, 000 Chromebooks in Pakistan by 2026: Details inside

ISLAMABAD: Global tech giant Google on Thursday launched an initiative to manufacture 5 million Chromebooks in Pakistan, presenting the first device to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif at a ceremony.

Addressing ‘Agay Barho, a-Google for Pakistan’ event in Islamabad this evening, PM Shehbaz Sharif urged IT experts to come up with their strategies and plans to achieve a target of 25 billion dollars IT exports in next five years and lauded the services of Google for Pakistan and globally.

The Prime Minister urged the IT companies and experts to devise strategies to provide the youth with modern skills that would enable them to get productive jobs in Pakistan as well as in the Gulf states and other parts of the world.

Speaking at the event, Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja highlighted the important role of Google in advancing digitalization in Pakistan.

She emphasized the importance of enhancing technical skills among IT graduates to help in this development.

Google’s Regional Director for Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka Farhan Qureshi acknowledged the vast opportunities available to freelancers in Pakistan.

He said that Google’s Career Certificates Program is offering 45,000 scholarships in the country.

Scott Beaumont, president of Google Asia Pacific (APAC) presented a locally manufactured Chromebook to the Prime Minister.

Speaking at the event, the Prime Minister appreciated Google’s support globally and in Pakistan as well.

He believed that the young generation of the country is very capable in the field of information technology which can play a key role in the economic development of Pakistan.

He said that the federal and provincial governments should utilize all possible resources for their education and empowerment.

Under Agay Barho, Google’s initiatives focused on elevating Pakistani tech talent and developers with digital and AI skills and preparing the Pakistani workforce to take advantage of new opportunities in the digital economy.

Last year, Google awarded 44,500 Google Career Certificate (GCC) scholarships to women and students and will award up to 45,000 additional scholarships in 2024 through its partners Tech Valley and PAFLA.