Google deal gives Pakistani students free AI access for one year
Pakistan and Google have signed an MoU to accelerate digital transformation, expand AI skills and strengthen the country’s technology and IT export potential.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosts the Google delegation during the signing of a digital transformation agreement in Islamabad.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani students will receive free access to Google’s advanced artificial intelligence tools for one year under a new agreement between Pakistan and Google aimed at accelerating the country’s digital transformation.
The memorandum of understanding was signed on Friday during a reception hosted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for a Google delegation at the Prime Minister’s House.
Under the agreement, Pakistan and Google will broaden cooperation in digital skills, IT exports, artificial intelligence and innovation. The partnership also includes an expansion of the Google Career Certificates programme, with the company targeting 150,000 certificates in Pakistan during 2026.
The agreement gives students free access for one year to advanced AI services, including Google AI Plus and Gemini. The initiative is expected to provide young people with greater opportunities to develop technology skills and prepare for an increasingly AI-driven global economy.
Pakistan plans AI centre in Islamabad
Pakistan and Google have also agreed to work together on establishing an AI centre of excellence in Islamabad. The proposed centre will focus on training young people and developing a workforce equipped with skills demanded by international markets.
The partnership will also target Pakistan’s mobile applications and gaming sector. Both sides plan to explore ways to improve the global competitiveness of Pakistani apps and games while promoting digital payments and expanding digital commerce.
Artificial intelligence will also be used to improve public-sector services. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, AI-powered data analytics will support the Federal Board of Revenue’s digitisation programme.
The agreement further covers the use of AI in agriculture, including crop monitoring, forecasting and sustainable farming practices.
Digital platforms will also be used to help small and medium-sized businesses reach international markets and expand their customer base.
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New task force to support IT exports
A task force involving the government, Google and other relevant stakeholders will prepare a roadmap for Pakistan’s IT exports and digital competitiveness.
The task force will identify obstacles facing the technology export sector while exploring new opportunities for growth.
The government said the cooperation would create additional opportunities for young Pakistanis in digital skills, startups and technology-related fields.
The partnership is linked to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s target of increasing Pakistan’s IT exports and digital economy to $30 billion by 2030.
The agreement comes shortly after Google announced a $500,000 Google.org investment for digital safety in Pakistan. The funding will support the Digital Pasban initiative, which aims to provide 200,000 households with Urdu-language digital safety resources, videos and parental workshops.
Google also recently opened its local office in Karachi, marking a further expansion of its presence in Pakistan.
The latest agreement therefore signals a broader partnership focused not only on AI access, but also on digital education, exports, public services, agriculture, startups and Pakistan’s wider technology economy.
