The Government of Pakistan and Google marked a major step in the country’s digital transformation with the inauguration of Pakistan’s first Chromebook Assembly Line, a collaboration led by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the Ministry of Defence Production and the Special Investment Facilitation Council. The facility at NRTC’s Haripur plant is set to scale production to 500,000 Chromebooks annually by 2026 to meet educational and public-sector needs.
The Chromebook Assembly initiative brings hardware manufacturing to Pakistan’s growing tech ecosystem while complementing existing software and skills programmes. Local assembly aims to provide affordable, secure devices tailored for classrooms and government use, create jobs, and build a domestic supply chain that supports broader industrial capacity and economic growth.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar described the move as a vote of confidence in Pakistan’s digital potential, saying the project supports the national vision of a digitally inclusive and AI-ready nation. He emphasised that a stronger local tech manufacturing base will help equip youth with future-ready skills and attract further investment.
Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja highlighted how the Chromebook Assembly will tie into the Prime Minister’s Digital Nation agenda and the National AI Policy, enabling digitised classrooms and access to AI-powered learning tools for students across provinces.
Minister for Defence Production Mohammad Raza Hayat Harraj noted NRTC’s central role in establishing the line, underscoring the defence organisation’s manufacturing experience and the venture’s potential to stimulate local industry and address the digital divide.
Farhan Qureshi, Country Director for Google Pakistan, confirmed plans to deepen Google’s local presence to support businesses, partnerships and skills development on the ground. Google’s involvement, together with partners including Tech Valley, Allied Australia and NRTC, aims to amplify existing training efforts that have already reached over one million people in Pakistan.
The launch ceremony at the Prime Minister’s House Auditorium drew senior federal and provincial ministers, SIFC officials and international delegates, reflecting broad public and private sector support. The Chromebook Assembly is expected to strengthen Pakistan’s position as a regional hub for digital manufacturing, support education-focused device rollout, and accelerate the integration of technology into classrooms nationwide.
By combining local production capacity with targeted digital skills programmes, the Chromebook Assembly will help translate Pakistan’s youthful demographic advantage into tangible economic and educational outcomes while reinforcing the country’s push toward a competitive, export-oriented tech sector.
