ISLAMABAD, August 18, 2026: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday unveiled the foundation plaque of Google's Pakistan office, calling it a significant milestone in the country's digital transformation journey.

Addressing a Google delegation at the Prime Minister’s Office, the PM described the visit as historic and expressed hope it would be followed by many more. He noted that Pakistan’s ongoing governance reforms and young population presented a unique opportunity to build a strong partnership with the tech giant.

Google Vice President Wilson L. White termed his first visit to Pakistan a "profound honour" and reaffirmed the company’s decade-long commitment to the country. He said Google had contributed over Rs 3.9 trillion to Pakistan's economy and supported more than 960,000 jobs in the last ten years.

White aligned Google’s goals with the PM’s vision of making Pakistan a US$30-billion IT export hub, announcing three key areas of investment: people, manufacturing infrastructure, and local businesses. He also revealed that Google would offer free Gemini subscriptions to all Pakistani students for one year, with a formal announcement expected later this week.

The plaque-unveiling ceremony was also attended by US Charge d'Affaires Natalie Baker and Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja.

PM Shehbaz congratulated the Google team and Pakistani officials, calling the partnership a "beautiful flower" that would blossom over time. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to equipping youth with modern tools and technology.