“Not just assembling devices, but also future exports, new jobs and a stronger digital economy”
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar. Photo: SCREEN
Google has begun local assembly of Chromebooks in Pakistan, a development the government says will spur digital hardware manufacturing, create jobs and strengthen the country’s technology supply chain.
Speaking at the launch event in Islamabad on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the initiative marks “an industrial milestone” as Pakistan deepens its transition from technology consumer to technology producer. “It’s not just about assembling devices, it’s about future exports, new jobs and a stronger digital economy,” he added.
Dar said Pakistan’s digital transformation accelerated after the launch of 4G in 2014, calling it a foundation for services and startups flourishing today. “If we hadn’t introduced 4G when we did, none of these innovations would have happened,” he said.
He said that under a strategic memorandum of understanding, both Pakistan and Google will collaborate to provide training to 100,000 developers across the country and promote AI-powered localized solutions such as Android services for public safety.
The minister highlighted that Google’s decision to set up a local office, along with the assembly line, would bring the tech giant closer to Pakistani developers, startups and entrepreneurs, enabling direct collaboration and better access to global platforms.
As part of the partnership, Google will also offer 100,000 professional certificates to equip young people with market-relevant digital skills, while supporting game studios and local AI-powered solutions.
Dar said the move comes at a time when Pakistan is trying to regain economic momentum and rebuild the confidence of global investors. “In 2017, Pakistan was seen as unstable. Today we are among the top 25 economies in the world,” he noted. “Our ambition is to accelerate growth so that Pakistan can soon join the G20.”
The government believes that localizing affordable digital tools, particularly for education, will help close access gaps and support innovation in learning across the country.
Dar described Google’s presence as a “powerful endorsement” of Pakistan’s digital potential and a signal to international investors that the country’s technology sector is entering a new phase of growth.
In her remarks, Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima described the launch of the Chromebook assembly line as a transformative step that brings together technology, manufacturing and education. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing the digital journey at a rapid pace.
