The Government of Pakistan and Google, together with partner Tech Valley, officially launched the country’s first Chromebook assembly line in a ceremony chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar at the Prime Minister’s House Auditorium. The initiative, led by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the Ministry of Defence Production and the Special Investment Facilitation Council, brought together senior federal and provincial ministers, diplomatic representatives and industry leaders to mark a new phase in local hardware manufacturing.
The Chromebook assembly at NRTC’s Haripur facility is expected to reach an annual production capacity of up to 500,000 devices by 2026, supplying high-quality, secure and affordable Chromebooks tailored for education and public sector use. With 64 percent of Pakistan’s population under 30, the project is designed to expand digital access in classrooms and government services while complementing Google’s existing training efforts that have already reached over one million Pakistanis.
Officials said the initiative will create jobs, train local technicians and strengthen domestic supply chains, turning software strengths into scalable manufacturing capacity. The collaboration aims to narrow the digital divide, support Pakistan’s National AI Policy and contribute to broader economic growth, with sector experts projecting significant export potential for digital services and products by 2030.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar described the move as a decisive step toward a digitally inclusive, AI-ready Pakistan and a demonstration of investor confidence. Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja highlighted the alignment with the Prime Minister’s Digital Nation vision and the importance of assembling local hardware alongside software capabilities. Defence Production Minister Mohammad Raza Hayat Harraj emphasised NRTC’s role in manufacturing and supply, while Google Pakistan’s Country Director Farhan Qureshi said the company will deepen its local presence to support businesses, skills and innovation across the country.
By establishing a Chromebook assembly line and strengthening on-the-ground partnerships, the public-private effort seeks to equip students and professionals with modern tools, boost the local tech ecosystem and position Pakistan as a competitive hub for education technology and technology exports. The project underscores a coordinated push to translate digital policy commitments into tangible manufacturing and workforce outcomes.
