Brussels/Islamabad, (Unib Rashid) – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday met a nine-member delegation of Google led by Wilson White, Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Policy, to discuss Pakistan’s digital transformation, youth skills development and the expansion of technology-driven economic opportunities.

U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker also accompanied the Google delegation during the meeting.

Welcoming the delegation, Prime Minister Shehbaz said Pakistan was undergoing a major digital transformation, including the digitization of governance and the economy. He highlighted the government’s vision of “Digital Nation Pakistan” and said several initiatives aimed at developing a national digital ecosystem were at an advanced stage of implementation.

The prime minister reiterated the government’s commitment to modernizing the country’s IT infrastructure and briefed the delegation on ongoing programmes to equip young Pakistanis with skills in information technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

He emphasized the importance of collaboration with global technology leaders such as Google to accelerate Pakistan’s digital transformation and create greater opportunities for its young population.

Prime Minister Shehbaz welcomed Google’s decision to establish its first office in Pakistan, saying the move would further strengthen the partnership between Pakistan and the global technology company.

He appreciated Google’s contribution to the growth of Pakistan’s digital economy and its initiatives that have helped thousands of Pakistani young people access productive employment opportunities.

Highlighting the potential of Pakistan’s youth in the digital sector, the prime minister expressed hope that Google would further expand its programmes for skills development and youth empowerment. He said the company’s local presence would also enable high-impact initiatives to be expanded on a larger scale.

Wilson White briefed the prime minister on Google’s future plans for Pakistan, saying the establishment of a local office would reinforce the company’s commitment to accelerating the country’s digital transformation.

He said Google would build on its existing partnerships in Pakistan to create long-term opportunities for young people and help local businesses access international markets.

White also expressed satisfaction with the Chromebook assembly line established by Google in collaboration with local partners. He said there was significant potential for Chromebooks assembled in Pakistan to be exported to other countries in the region.

He said Google recognized the immense potential of Pakistan’s young population and was keen to expand skills development programmes in IT, AI, gaming and other emerging technology sectors.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Wilson White, Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker and other dignitaries jointly unveiled a commemorative plaque to formally mark the inauguration of Google’s office in Pakistan.