By Hasan Salahuddin

Pakistan’s growing collaboration with Google on artificial intelligence is increasingly being viewed by experts as a strategic opportunity to accelerate digital transformation, strengthen the technology ecosystem, and develop an innovation-led digital economy.

Backed by a young population and expanding digital connectivity, Pakistan is gradually positioning itself to move beyond service-based IT work toward the development of AI-driven products and solutions.

Several recent developments highlight the scale of this emerging cooperation. Pakistan’s IT exports reached a record $3.8 billion in FY25, up 18% year-on-year, while the country had around 116 million internet users at the start of 2025, with internet penetration reaching 45.7%.

Experts believe that sustaining this momentum will require a workforce capable not only of using AI tools but also of developing and adapting advanced technologies for local and global markets.

In April 2026, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met Google’s Karan Bhatia on the sidelines of the World Bank–IMF Spring Meetings in Washington to discuss expanding cooperation on AI training and digital integration across sectors, including agriculture and manufacturing.

The engagement followed the launch of AI Seekho 2026, a nationwide initiative by Google for Developers in collaboration with the Ministry of IT and Telecom, Telenor Pakistan, and Innovista. The programme aims to train more than 100,000 developers and young professionals in AI-related skills.

The initiative offers practical learning opportunities through Google AI Studio and Google Antigravity, along with online competitions and physical hackathons in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi. It also introduces “vibe coding,” allowing participants to build applications using natural language prompts and problem-solving techniques.

Talking with Wealth Pakistan, Dr. Tehreem Qasim, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Information Technology, Quaid-i-Azam University, described the collaboration as a “pivotal step” toward accelerating Pakistan’s digital transformation.

She said initiatives such as AI Seekho 2026 could help democratise access to modern AI tools and practical training while gradually shifting Pakistan’s technology ecosystem from service-oriented work toward AI product development.

However, she stressed that the long-term success of such programmes would depend on strengthening core computer science education and analytical problem-solving capabilities.

“Pakistan must prepare a workforce capable not only of using advanced technologies but also of building them,” she said.

Dr. Syed Hamad Shirazi, Assistant Professor at the Department of Computer Science, Hazara University, said Pakistan’s engagement with global technology companies such as Google and Microsoft represents a timely strategic opportunity for the country’s digital economy.

He said targeted AI training could significantly improve workforce skills in areas such as machine learning, data science, cloud computing, and generative AI, thereby enhancing youth employability and Pakistan’s competitiveness in the global digital market.

According to him, partnerships with global technology firms could also strengthen the startup ecosystem by improving access to digital platforms, mentorship, and cloud infrastructure for SMEs and emerging businesses.

He added that AI-powered automation and data-driven decision-making could improve governance and public service delivery in sectors such as healthcare, education, and taxation, while a stronger AI ecosystem could attract foreign investment and support growth in IT exports.

Shirazi also stressed the importance of inclusive implementation to ensure digital access for rural and underserved communities, supported by effective data governance and forward-looking regulatory frameworks.

Dr. Muhammad Ali, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Riphah International University, said the deepening engagement between Google and Pakistan on artificial intelligence could accelerate digital transformation across multiple sectors.

He noted that AI-focused training and capacity-building programmes could help create a more competitive workforce for the global digital economy, while collaboration with international technology companies could facilitate knowledge transfer to startups, SMEs, and public institutions.

Dr. Ali said integrating AI into agriculture, healthcare, education, and governance could improve productivity, decision-making, and service delivery across the economy.

However, he emphasised that Pakistan would still require enabling policies, stronger digital infrastructure, effective data regulation, and ethical AI governance to fully realise these opportunities.

Experts believe Pakistan’s expanding cooperation with Google, particularly through initiatives such as AI Seekho 2026, could play an important role in shaping the country’s long-term digital future if supported by sustained investment in education, infrastructure, and technology governance.

Credit: INP-WealthPk