During an event titled “Agay Barho: A Google for Pakistan” held in Islamabad, Google shared its ongoing commitment to boosting the country’s digital economy. A new report titled Agay Barho: Empowering Pakistan’s Digital Economy was unveiled by Access Partnership, highlighting how investing in digital skills and promoting digital exports are critical for securing Pakistan’s digital future.
Despite economic challenges, Pakistan’s IT sector is positioned as a key driver of economic recovery and growth. The country’s IT services exports have expanded 2.7 times since 2014, accounting for 35% of all service-sector exports in 2023. The report projects that digital technologies, especially mobile apps, online video services, cross-border digital advertising, e-commerce, and other digital services, will add $6.6 billion (Rs 1.8 trillion) to Pakistan’s annual digital exports by 2030. This figure could rise significantly with the implementation of favorable policies.
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The report also noted that digital technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), will play a major role in improving export efficiency, reducing barriers to international markets, and driving innovation. These advancements are expected to enable businesses to develop new digital solutions for global markets, fostering greater growth in digital exports.
Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Pakistan’s Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication, praised Google’s efforts in advancing the country’s digital economy, noting:
“I commend Google for its initiatives that have transformed the lives of many Pakistanis. In 2023 alone, Google provided more than 960,000 jobs for the youth of Pakistan. This reflects both Pakistan’s potential in the digital economy and Google’s commitment to fostering growth and upskilling our youth.”
Farhan S. Qureshi, Google Pakistan’s Country Director, revealed that in 2023, Google’s AI-powered tools contributed Rs 3.9 trillion to the Pakistani economy. He also highlighted a recent partnership with Tech Valley, Allied, and NRTC to locally produce 500,000 Chromebooks, with support from the Prime Minister, marking a significant milestone in the country’s digital transformation.
Google’s suite of products, including Google Search, Google Ads, Google AdSense, Google Play, Google Cloud, and YouTube, generated Rs 2.6 trillion in economic activity for Pakistani businesses, with Rs 249 billion coming from international markets. Meanwhile, services like Google Maps, Google Play, Google Drive, and YouTube contributed Rs 1.3 trillion in economic benefits for Pakistani households. In 2023, Google helped businesses create 864,600 jobs, while the Android app economy supported an additional 100,400 jobs.
To further promote digital education, Google launched several new initiatives, including the Google AI Essentials program, which offers learners AI-related skills within a few hours. Another key initiative, Career Kamyabi, aims to address the employment gap for female graduates from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Additionally, in collaboration with the Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA), Google introduced a freelancer skilling program, which has trained over 10,000 freelancers across Pakistan.
