Pakistan launches first chromebook assembly line as Ishaq Dar hails ‘defining moment’ in digital transformation

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Tuesday hailed the launch of Pakistan’s first Chromebook assembly line as a “defining moment” in the country’s digital transformation journey, marking a new chapter in local technology manufacturing and youth empowerment.

Speaking at the event titled “Building the Digital Future, Together,” Dar said the localization of Chromebook assembly would make digital tools more affordable and accessible, especially in the education sector. The event was attended by federal ministers, IT experts, and representatives of Google, reflecting growing collaboration between Pakistan and the global tech industry.

The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted that the launch, coupled with Google’s plan to establish a local presence in Pakistan and the agreement to train 100,000 developers in artificial intelligence (AI), would accelerate the government’s vision of a digitally inclusive and innovation-driven economy.

“This initiative not only marks an industrial milestone but also lays the foundation for job creation, supply chain development, and future technology exports,” Dar remarked. He assured Google’s management that Pakistan offered a rapidly improving environment for investment, collaboration, and technology transfer, adding that the company “will not regret setting up operations here.”

Dar emphasized that the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) had been established to streamline business processes and ensure that new investments could be operational in the shortest possible time. He said government policies were focused on transforming Pakistan into a regional technology hub, supported by a transparent regulatory framework that encourages innovation and investment.

Addressing concerns about high fiscal tax rates, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that the government was pursuing a reasonable and comparable tax structure to attract global technology firms.

On the country’s economic outlook, Dar reaffirmed the government’s ambition to bring Pakistan into the G20 club, highlighting the nation’s untapped mineral wealth worth an estimated $6–10 trillion, compared to total debt and liabilities of $130 billion. “You can imagine that $130 billion would be peanuts compared to our natural wealth. We are on the right path and moving fast,” he said.

Returning from Istanbul after attending the Coordination Meeting of Arab-Islamic Foreign Ministers, Dar also mentioned that following the Gaza peace agreement signed last month in the presence of President Trump by eight countries, efforts were underway to ensure its full implementation.