‘Big milestone’: Google’s local office inaugurated in Pakistan

Google, the US-based tech giant, inaugurated its local office in Pakistan on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in its decade-long commitment to the nation. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met the Google delegation led by Global Affairs Vice President Wilson L. White at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad. The US Chargé d’Affaires in Pakistan, Natalie Baker, also attended the meeting.

During the inaugural event, Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed optimism about a fruitful partnership with Google and the strengthening of bilateral ties across various sectors. He emphasized Pakistan's ongoing digital transformation, noting the country's young population as a potential catalyst for growth. "Pakistan is going through a major digital transformation. In many areas of our governance, there is a youth bulge and we can really turn around Pakistan’s fortunes," he stated.

Google's vice president, Wilson L. White, described the occasion as a "big milestone," highlighting the company's over a decade-long investment in Pakistan. He praised Prime Minister Shehbaz's vision of transforming Pakistan into a $30 billion IT export hub. White outlined three ways in which Google aims to contribute to this vision: by investing in Pakistani people, manufacturing and infrastructure to boost hardware exports, and supporting local businesses.

The formal inauguration of Google's Pakistan office was carried out by Prime Minister Shehbaz and the Google official, symbolizing a long-term partnership between the two parties.