Google opens Pakistan office; PM Sharif welcomes delegation

[brazensword]

Main companies working with Google are all based out of Pakistan in the GCC because the lul ministers imposed limits on Ad costs, and now they've even started taxing social media, banks took the opportunity and even started taxing income of app and game developers. Lul mulk hai har koi harmpai me lga hua jis ka jo dil krta hai krta hai. Google ne akr kya ukhar lena hai

 

[nahtanbob]

India leverage its 1.5 billion people and stable economy to attract/force google to build data centers. Google will build one in Pakistan if you make a case for them. It will have to be worth it for them to go ahead.

A office in Pakistan is first step towards google data center.

other than the data being physically in Pakistan, data centers have zero intrinsic value.. they generate very little employment. Google is the only one with access to the data

 

[nahtanbob]

I would like to be happy about this news but to be honest...It is probably just a liason office...with a staff of 5-7 people. Oracle at it's peak was 150 plus..now it is probably down to a coupe of dozen...Microsoft has shut it's doors. SAP is running on fumes. Many SaaS companies do not allow their employees to use their official laptops in PK. A little too late I would say...

why is the issue with allowing laptops in Pakistan? China?

 

[Vortex]

Google opens Pakistan office; PM Sharif welcomes delegation​

18/08/2026

View attachment 211116
ISLAMABAD, AUG 18 /DNA/ – A 9-member delegation of Google, led by Wilson White, Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Policy, called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad today. Natalie Baker, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, also accompanied the delegation.

Welcoming the delegation, the Prime Minister said Pakistan is undergoing a major digital transformation of governance, including the digitization of the economy. He shared the government’s vision of “Digital Nation Pakistan” and informed the delegation that several initiatives to develop the national digital ecosystem are at an advanced stage of implementation.

The Prime Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to upgrading IT infrastructure and briefed the delegation on ongoing programs for training youth in IT and Artificial Intelligence. He emphasized the importance of collaboration with a global technology leader like Google in achieving these objectives.

The Prime Minister welcomed Google’s decision to open an office in Pakistan, noting that it would further strengthen the country’s partnership with the company. He appreciated Google’s role in advancing Pakistan’s digital economy and lauded its initiatives that have enabled thousands of Pakistani youth to secure productive employment. Highlighting the potential of Pakistan’s youth in the digital space, the Prime Minister expressed hope that Google would further expand its footprint to upskilling and empowering them. He added that with Google’s local presence now established, high-impact programs could be scaled up further.

Mr. Wilson White briefed the Prime Minister on Google’s future plans. He said the local office would deepen Google’s commitment to accelerating Pakistan’s digital transformation and build on years of existing partnership to create long-term opportunities for Pakistani youth and help local businesses go global. Expressing satisfaction over the ongoing Chromebook assembly line established by Google with local partners, Mr. White noted strong potential for Chromebooks assembled in Pakistan to be exported to other countries in the region. He stated that Google recognizes the immense potential of Pakistan’s young population and is keen to expand upskilling programs in IT, AI, gaming, and other areas.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Wilson White, Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker, and other dignitaries jointly unveiled a plaque to mark the inauguration of Google’s office in Pakistan.

Google opens Pakistan office; PM Sharif welcomes delegation - Islamabad Post

Google opens Pakistan office; PM Sharif welcomes delegation

islamabadpost.com.pk

Instead of building our own “big tech” we are googlinazing Pakistan economy more and more when there are initiatives to “degooglise” (removing Google and others US big tech from national institutions) in few European countries like France and Germany.

If we are going to digitalise our economy, why not take same path at early stage ? It will help to protect our digital independence and help our IT sector.

At least for critical infrastructure and organisations. China also built own version of Linux.

if my memory is not failing me, we already have given our NADRA database to USA through AWS. I remember Late Rehman Malik was blamed for it.

 

[hydrabadi_arab]

 

[Watandar]

if my memory is not failing me, we already have given our NADRA database to USA through AWS. I remember Late Rehman Malik was blamed for it.

AWS does not have access to the customer data, as per legal agreements. However if Nadra applications are now hosted in an AWS data center instead of hardware in Pakistan, then yes the data itself got moved abroad since AWS does not have data centers in Pakistan.

Regarding this news, it is an absolute nothing burger that google opened a sales office in Pakistan. To have the Prime Minister or cabinet official attend this is incredibly embarrassing.

 

[Winthorpe]

why is the issue with allowing laptops in Pakistan? China?

Was told it has something to do with cybersecurity issues

 

[PK781]

AWS does not have access to the customer data, as per legal agreements. However if Nadra applications are now hosted in an AWS data center instead of hardware in Pakistan, then yes the data itself got moved abroad since AWS does not have data centers in Pakistan.

Regarding this news, it is an absolute nothing burger that google opened a sales office in Pakistan. To have the Prime Minister or cabinet official attend this is incredibly embarrassing.

the PM has nothing else to do but do photo ops for every little thing.
When you're incompetent and incapable, this is the result.
Same for that girl that's currently the "charge d affairs", she getting too much importance in everything.......sab uske thallay lagay huway hain ajkal

 

[hydrabadi_arab]

AWS does not have access to the customer data, as per legal agreements. However if Nadra applications are now hosted in an AWS data center instead of hardware in Pakistan, then yes the data itself got moved abroad since AWS does not have data centers in Pakistan.

Regarding this news, it is an absolute nothing burger that google opened a sales office in Pakistan. To have the Prime Minister or cabinet official attend this is incredibly embarrassing.

For a 3rd world country like Pakistan its a big deal, they have been working on this for 2 years.