PM Shehbaz inaugurates Pakistan's 'largest' data centre AI Cloud Sky47 in Islamabad

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated on Friday Pakistan’s “largest” data centre AI Cloud Sky47 in Islamabad, describing the facility as a landmark achievement for Pakistan reflecting the country’s growing technological capabilities.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the prime minister said he was deeply inspired after touring the facility. He said the successful execution of the facility showcased the extraordinary talent available in both Pakistan’s military and civilian sectors.

Quoting the national poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the prime minister said nations were built through fresh ideas and visionary thinking rather than bricks and stones alone. He stressed that innovation, commitment and collective resolve were the driving forces behind national progress.

Paying tribute to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir’s leadership, the prime minister said the project stood as a testament to what could be achieved when state institutions worked together with a shared national purpose. He expressed confidence that if the same model of coordination and execution was replicated across other sectors, Pakistan could not only recover from past setbacks but also emerge as a modern, dynamic and forward-looking nation.

“This journey will not be easy, but it is certainly not impossible,” the prime minister said, adding that Pakistan’s success during Marka-e-Haq had already demonstrated that determination, courage and unity could transform seemingly impossible goals into reality.

He maintained that every major challenge presented an opportunity, whereas planning, innovation and sustained hard work would shape Pakistan’s future in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and cloud computing.

The prime minister also acknowledged the contributions of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the Ministry of Information Technology, the IT Secretary and strategic technology partner ZTE for their role in delivering the project. He revealed that the facility had an initial capacity of 8.5 megawatts and announced that similar AI and cloud infrastructure would soon be replicated in Karachi and Lahore.

PM Shehbaz directed all state institutions to align with the country’s digital transformation agenda. He described the facility as a priceless gift to the people of Pakistan, and added that it would significantly strengthen the country’s digital security, enhance technological self-reliance and inspire confidence that Pakistan was fully capable of competing in the global digital economy.