Global tech giant Google launched an initiative on Thursday to produce 500,000 Chromebooks in Pakistan. The first locally manufactured device was presented to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at a ceremony in Islamabad to mark the occasion. Scott Beaumont, President of Google Asia Pacific (APAC), handed over the Chromebook to the prime minister.
In his address, the prime minister praised Google’s global and local contributions. He highlighted the potential of Pakistan’s youth in the field of information technology, emphasizing their role in driving the country’s economic development. The prime minister called on both federal and provincial governments to invest resources in the education and empowerment of the younger generation.
Shehbaz Sharif further shared that the government has set a target of $25 billion in IT exports over the next five years. He encouraged IT professionals and entrepreneurs to devise a strategy to help achieve this goal, while also promoting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and freelancers.
The prime minister also reiterated his commitment to making Pakistan’s governance system entirely paperless to combat corruption. Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja noted Google’s vital role in the digitization of Pakistan.
Farhan S. Qureshi, Regional Director of Google for Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, stressed that a focus on technology would boost economic activity in Pakistan. He also highlighted the vast opportunities available for freelancers to advance in various tech sectors.
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