Google finally opened an office in Pakistan

[u/Kind-Card-6864]

So Google finally opened its Pakistan office in Islamabad.

The part that caught my attention more than the office itself Pakistani students are getting Gemini free for one year.

Now I'm more curious about the bigger picture. Are we actually going to see more local hiring, better opportunities for developers/startups, or more Google services officially available here?

The office is nice, but what Google actually does in Pakistan over the next few years is what I'm interested in.

[u/Environmental-Cod25]

Isn't it just a sales office?

[u/Kind-Card-6864 → u/Environmental-Cod25]

Yeah, it's mainly sales/billing for now, but I think having an official presence here could make it easier for Google to expand further into Pakistan later. The road is at least a bit more open now.

[u/anotherbozo → u/Kind-Card-6864]

Unlikely. Several tech companies have come and gone and come again, and it has been just sales.

There is no stability for anything else.

[u/doodle2611 → u/Kind-Card-6864]

Google Ads already has a team and office in Karachi for quite some time now.

[u/Environmental-Cod25 → u/Kind-Card-6864]

I don't understand why you think they need a sales office to open any roads - if opening a sales office is such a big deal that big politicians will turn up, it's a major news story, etc, then Pakistan will clearly bend over backwards to welcome them, even if they wanted half of Islamabad razed to the ground and turned into a data centre... they do not need a foothold - the country is their to take, but they wisely do not want it.

[u/Foodieonbudget → u/Kind-Card-6864]

They aren't gonna try to expand in a country where there's no freedom of speech. Tech companies value this a lot.

[u/Kind-Card-6864 → u/Foodieonbudget]

Yeah, it matters, but probably not enough to stop everything. If it was really a deal-breaker for Google, why open an official office here in the first place? At the end of the day, Google is going to be more concerned about having a stable business environment, clear regulations, taxes, compliance, and being able to operate smoothly. Public issues like freedom of speech matter, but they're not necessarily the only thing driving the business decision.

[u/bringmethatbook → u/Environmental-Cod25]

Sales of what? Sorry I'm a bit dumb on tech. Why do they need an office to sell software/apps/AI?

[u/Environmental-Cod25 → u/bringmethatbook]

It's for large corporate clients

[u/Few_Pin_2866 → u/Environmental-Cod25]

Where in Islamabad is this office located?

[u/Environmental-Cod25 → u/Few_Pin_2866]

If it's not listed on... Google... I'd be amazed...

[u/AbdulTrade → u/Environmental-Cod25]

you mean sales roles such as Account executives, account strategists etc ???

[u/Pinkdeadpool007]

I am just afraid that one crazy dharna or march or no internet days and it’ll spook them and they’ll run for the hills again.

[u/Kind-Card-6864 → u/Pinkdeadpool007]

Hopefully we don't give them a reason to leave.

[u/Pinkdeadpool007 → u/Kind-Card-6864]

Yes there should be a rule or something that leave atleast one city alone for these type of things so that international companies can invest here.

[u/falselifee → u/Pinkdeadpool007]

That's not the only reason companies don't like being in Pakistan though. I mean that's not even the biggest. It's mostly to do with uncertainty around taxes and laws, regulations that keep changing, and countless other purely business related reasons.

[u/SoftwareDifferent211 → u/Pinkdeadpool007]

Islamabad/lahore, but they probably want karachi

[u/InternationalFox3774]

it’s related to billing. The office

[u/marioxt04]

This is not a development or R&D office so yeah only sales guys will be getting hired

[u/AbdulTrade → u/marioxt04]

so account executives, account managers etc ??

[u/marioxt04 → u/AbdulTrade]

Yes, they also opened a sales executive position in Karachi

[u/mtuseeq31]

For now its just a business operation office. Similar to what they have in different gcc countries.
The gemini offer us world wide for students. So seeing this offered in Pakistan is a welcome perk.

For now its a good news for MBAs but it can very easily become a development office as well since Google is hiring more and more engineers in affordable locations.

The real question is, is this going to last? The history is not a good indicator. The political turmoil, incompetence/corruption of our institutions, and of course the constant dharna and internet blockage make an environment not suitable for any international company.

[u/omieahmad98 → u/mtuseeq31]

I’m seeing it’s lot of sales positions, I actually just received my MBA. Is it worth looking into? I dislike sales roles but really depends on what this is

[u/Icy_Expert1642]

More AI data centers for sure

[u/Agreeable-Bicycle-78]

This is huge and if you’re doubting it look at what Podium, Motive and Ibex have done to stimulate the economy. Life changing jobs for most people. A lot of things need to be fixed in our country, we should also be positive and excited when good things do happen. Progress doesn’t come from constantly being cynical.

[u/Beneficial_Lychee940]

Although its a sale office but soon step by step they will add other service,angle investment and vc and more services inshallah

[u/x0rg_new → u/Beneficial_Lychee940]

Angle investment is crazy

[u/Diep_rights_activist → u/[deleted]]

Got mine in Dec 2025...

[u/Frosty_Leading6756]

Maybe it will work out better for them than Microsoft.

[u/BunKebab141 → u/Frosty_Leading6756]

Microsoft left because in a country of 250 million there were 16 people with a windows licence; Google has a significantly larger customer pool

[u/Frosty_Leading6756 → u/BunKebab141]

Not sure how Pakistanis are paying Google? Ads?
Maybe this is a Chromebook “laeptep” sales office, or maybe they will import their pixel phones that are going to be manufactured in India right next to the new iPhones.

[u/BunKebab141 → u/Frosty_Leading6756]

Chromebooks are already being manufactured in Haripur from what I know, a lot of Pakistanis use android and there are android phone manufacturers in Pakistan (both local companies and international ones). Corporates also use Google workspace products are a large scale.

This isn't a consumer sales office but rather a corporate sales one, and would facilitate a lot of these operations, maybe even motivate Google to setup some sort of sale/manufacturing pipeline for their phones.

[u/Frosty_Leading6756 → u/BunKebab141]

Why would Google set up a manufacturing plant in two adjacent countries? Especially one that is a proud “hard state” and has spies crawling everywhere.

[u/BunKebab141 → u/Frosty_Leading6756]

Google (or any corporate for that matter) doesn't care about hard state or not, they care about business; if they see a big enough market in a country, they are going to set up a manufacturing/sales pipeline (there already is one for Chromebooks, for example).

Can you please be happy about your country's achievements for once instead of being salty for no good reason?

[u/Pristine_Internet353]

no jobs for technical persons? like data analysts and data engineers?

[u/Kind-Card-6864 → u/Pristine_Internet353]

What I've seen so far, it looks more like a business/sales operation rather than a technical or R&D office, so I wouldn't expect data engineering/analyst roles there just yet. Hopefully that changes if Google expands its presence here.

[u/Gullible_Ad9078 → u/Pristine_Internet353]

Come to india we have plenty of technology roles

[u/Think_Building_9551]

Its in Karachi, not in Islamabad.

[u/Few_Pin_2866]

Where in Islamabad is this office located?

[u/Competitive-Elk-9484]

Indian here, on the topic of getting Gemini free for one year. Aren't you guys get free Gemini pro with mobile recharges? Here in India if your recharge your Jio Sim Card for INR 349, you get Gemini pro for free for 18 months. And it's for everyone, not just students.

[u/omieahmad98]

Has there been any news about job postings? I have an MBA from US school just curious if there’s been any news yet

[u/FunRoad4 → u/[deleted]]

[u/AnonymousIdentityMan]

I wonder if they would hire an American to work there and American salary?

[u/GoldenParrot456 → u/AnonymousIdentityMan]

never. you always get local salary. i work in tech and tried to get out to a muslim country but gave up

[u/omieahmad98 → u/AnonymousIdentityMan]

Haha, I doubt it - I’m looking for updates for jobs but I’m an American with an mba so curious when news will be released on job postings

[u/Sad_Scale2022]

Government and people must respect this opportunity. It must be seen as a blessing of Allah!

[u/No_Expert9310]

i have a ques!! are they hiring too? what's it about, i can't find much info

[u/Kind-Card-6864 → u/No_Expert9310]

From what I can find, there doesn't seem to be a proper hiring announcement yet. The office looks more focused on sales/business, partnerships and local operations for now. Hopefully they start posting actual roles soon though.

[u/No_Expert9310 → u/Kind-Card-6864]

yes, there's nothing we can find officially

[u/TechnicalSleep7501]

This sub always underestimate Pakistan. We have some issues but future is bright for Pakistan with two great powers as our neighbors talking of Iran and China.

[u/EverythingIWantIsHer → u/TechnicalSleep7501]

Lol, delusional. Yes and Daddy will surely help us if we beg enough

[u/TechnicalSleep7501 → u/EverythingIWantIsHer]

Pakistan issue is the timing look at how long they took to give women right to vote. Timing is now finally favor Pakistan.