Google: Digital Skills Training Could Boost Pakistan’s GDP by Rs. 2.8 Trillion by 2030
Google’s latest insights suggest that enhancing digital skills and expanding the use of educational technologies could contribute an additional Rs. 2.8 trillion to Pakistan’s GDP by 2030. This projection was unveiled at the “Agay Barho: A Google for Pakistan” event in Islamabad, where Google reaffirmed its commitment to fostering growth in Pakistan’s digital economy.
The event also featured a report by Access Partnership titled “Agay Barho: Empowering Pakistan’s Digital Economy.” The report highlights that, despite economic hurdles, Pakistan’s IT sector is becoming a pivotal force for economic recovery and expansion. Since 2014, the nation’s IT services exports have surged by 2.7 times, now comprising 35% of all service-sector exports in 2023.
The report forecasts that digital technologies could significantly boost Pakistan’s export sector. By 2030, mobile apps, online video services, cross-border digital ads, and e-commerce could add an estimated $6.6 billion (Rs. 1.8 trillion) annually to digital exports. The growth potential is even greater if Pakistan adopts supportive policies to enable this expansion.
Businesses leveraging digital technologies will drive this increase, creating new exportable solutions, reducing market access costs, and enhancing export efficiency. Artificial Intelligence (AI), in particular, is expected to play a crucial role by unlocking new opportunities and improving access to global markets.
Farhan S. Qureshi, Google Pakistan’s Country Director, added that Google’s AI-powered tools have already contributed Rs. 3.9 trillion to the Pakistani economy this year. He also noted the significance of the recent partnership with Tech Valley, Allied, and NRTC to locally produce 500,000 Chromebooks with support from the Prime Minister, marking a major step in Pakistan’s digital transformation.
Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja praised Google for its role in advancing Pakistan’s digital landscape. She highlighted that Google’s initiatives have created over 960,000 jobs for Pakistani youth in 2023 alone, demonstrating the country’s growing digital potential and Google’s dedication to upskilling and empowering the youth.
Farhan S. Qureshi, Google Pakistan’s Country Director, added that Google’s AI-powered tools have already contributed Rs. 3.9 trillion to the Pakistani economy this year. He also noted the significance of the recent partnership with Tech Valley, Allied, and NRTC to locally produce 500,000 Chromebooks with support from the Prime Minister, marking a major step in Pakistan’s digital transformation.
Google’s suite of services, including Search, Ads, AdSense, Play, Cloud, and YouTube, generated Rs. 2.6 trillion in economic activity for Pakistani businesses, with Rs. 249 billion coming from international markets. Additionally, services such as Google Search, Maps, Play, Drive, and YouTube contributed Rs. 1.3 trillion in economic benefits to households.
