By APP
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Wednesday said the opening of Google’s first office in Pakistan would strengthen the country’s talent pipeline and provide further support to the local technology ecosystem.
Talking to the media, she stated the presence of Google and other major international technology companies in Pakistan would encourage more global firms to establish operations in the country.
The minister said the arrival of major technology companies and their physical presence in Pakistan reflected global tech firms’ confidence in the country’s economy and leadership.
She said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had personally led the digital transformation agenda over the past two years and provided a roadmap through the Digital Nation Pakistan initiative.
“Over the last two years, we have seen the digitisation of the federal government, including work on the FBR and revenue side, the digital economy, cashless payments and digital governance,” she said.
Shaza Fatima Khawaja said Pakistan’s IT exports had grown consistently by around 20 per cent over the past two and a half years, reflecting growth in the private sector. The country’s freelancing economy had also exceeded $1 billion this year, she added.
She said these developments had helped build confidence in the international community.
The minister thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his personal leadership, commitment and support for the technology industry.
She said the IT industry had been given special treatment in the budget, including its placement in the final tax regime for exports and a 0.25pc tax on exports.
She said several other measures had also been taken by the prime minister to support the industry.
Shaza also highlighted the government’s “whole-of-government” approach and the role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).
She said the efforts of the SIFC, the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication and its departments had contributed to the establishment of Google’s office in Pakistan.
“This is a collective collaboration and teamwork that made it possible for Google’s office to open in Pakistan today,” she said.
Highlighting the government’s partnership with Google, the minister said around 350,000 Google certifications had been completed in Pakistan in recent years.
She said the government was currently working with Google on certification programmes for 3,000 public service officers.
She said the AI Seekho programme, organised with the Google Developers Group, had attracted more than 17,000 teams, with women accounting for 25pc of participants.
Around 50,000 developers had also received training in gaming and animation, she added.
Similarly, Think Apps and App Design Master Classes had provided training to around 120 companies in gaming and design.
The Minister said a Chromebook assembly line had also been inaugurated in Pakistan last year. Google Chromebooks were being assembled locally and the government would also explore opportunities for their export, she added.
She also highlighted initiatives providing training in journalism and online safety.
“The purpose of these initiatives is to tell you that our partnership with Google is providing support to the overall tech ecosystem. This is a manifestation of our teamwork and partnership with Google,” she said.
Shaza Fatima Khawaja said July’s IT export figures had shown an 18pc year-on-year increase, with Pakistan recording exports worth $417 million during the month.
She said the high trade surplus of IT exports was particularly important for Pakistan’s foreign exchange position.
“Tech exports have an 85-86pc trade surplus,” she said, explaining that the sector did not require significant machinery imports, allowing a large share of export earnings to remain in the country.
She said IT exports were therefore playing a fundamental role in Pakistan’s economy.
The minister expressed optimism that the government would continue to share positive developments regarding the technology sector in the coming months.
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