Islamabad: Google has officially opened its first physical office in Pakistan, marking a landmark milestone in the technology giant's expansion across South Asia and providing a significant boost to the nation's digital economy.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif officially inaugurated the new presence in Islamabad during a high-level meeting with a nine-member Google delegation. Led by Wilson White, Google's Vice President for Government Affairs and Public Policy, the delegation was accompanied by Natalie Baker, Chargé d’Affaires at the United States Embassy in Islamabad.

As per reports, the establishment of the local office aims to accelerate national technology adoption, modernise information technology infrastructure, and expand digital upskilling programmes for Pakistani youth. Speaking during the meeting, Prime Minister Sharif highlighted Pakistan’s ongoing digital transformation under the "Digital Nation Pakistan" vision, emphasising that a direct physical presence from Google will deepen bilateral collaboration and foster economic digitisation.

A central element of the discussions focused on local hardware manufacturing and tech production. Wilson White commended the progress of the local Chromebook assembly line established in Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. White noted that locally assembled Chromebooks hold substantial commercial potential for export to other regional markets, positioning Pakistan as an emerging hub for educational hardware.

Furthermore, the local presence is set to streamline large-scale technical training initiatives, particularly in artificial intelligence and software development. Prime Minister Sharif reaffirmed the government's commitment to upgrading IT infrastructure and voiced optimism that Google's localised operations will play a pivotal role in equipping young professionals to meet global industry demands.