Pakistan, Google sign landmark MoU for national digital transformation

Pakistan and Google have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday to collaborate on national digital transformation and innovation. The agreement aims to expand digital skills, IT exports, and digital economy growth in the country, as outlined in a statement by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The MoU was signed during a reception hosted by the Prime Minister for the Google team. Under the agreement, Pakistan and Google will work together to expand the Google Career Certificates programme, with a target of providing 150,000 certificates in Pakistan by 2026. Both sides also agreed to provide Pakistani students with free access to advanced AI tools from Google, including Google AI Plus and Gemini.

The two countries further agreed to establish an AI Centre of Excellence in Islamabad, focused on training Pakistani youth and human resources to meet global market demands. The cooperation will also enhance the global competitiveness of Pakistan's mobile applications and gaming industry, promote the country's digital payments system, and expand digital commerce.

Additionally, they will use AI to improve public services, government efficiency, and data analytics in the Federal Board of Revenue's digitisation project. In agriculture, they will use AI for crop monitoring, forecasting, and sustainable practices. The agreement also aims to provide digital platforms for small and medium-sized businesses to access global markets.

A task force will be formed to prepare a roadmap for IT exports and competitiveness, identifying obstacles and growth opportunities. The cooperation between Pakistan and Google is expected to lay the foundation for a new era of digital transformation and innovation in the country.