Pakistan and Google have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to expand cooperation in digital transformation, artificial intelligence, digital skills, IT exports and the wider technology sector.

The agreement was signed during a reception hosted by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif for a Google delegation. Under the agreement, the two sides will expand the Google Career Certificates program, with a target of 150,000 certificates in Pakistan during 2026.

Pakistan and Google will also provide Pakistani students with greater access to artificial intelligence tools. Students will receive free access for one year to Google AI Plus, Gemini and other AI tools under the planned cooperation.

AI Center of Excellence

The agreement also includes plans to establish an AI Center of Excellence in Islamabad. The center will focus on training Pakistani youth and other human resources in skills aligned with requirements in international markets.

Broader Cooperation

The cooperation will extend to Pakistan’s mobile application and gaming industries, digital payments and digital commerce. The two sides also plan to explore the use of AI in government services, including data analytics for the Federal Board of Revenue’s digitization efforts.

The agreement also covers the use of AI in agriculture for crop monitoring, forecasting and sustainable farming practices. Digital platforms will be used to help small and medium-sized businesses access international markets.

The government, Google and other relevant stakeholders will also form a task force to prepare a roadmap for increasing Pakistan’s IT exports and competitiveness. The task force will examine barriers to IT exports and identify opportunities for further growth.