KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah led three landmark initiatives aimed at accelerating the province’s digital transformation, including a Google Gemini Artificial Intelligence (AI) training programme for cabinet members and senior officials, the launch of 20,000 Google Career Certificate scholarships for university students at CM House, and the inauguration of Sindh’s first Google Gemini for Education Corner at NED University of Engineering & Technology.
The initiatives, undertaken in collaboration with Google and Tech Valley Pakistan, reflect the Sindh government’s commitment to integrating emerging technologies into governance while equipping young people with globally recognised digital skills required in the rapidly evolving digital economy.
The programmes were attended by provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants, spokespersons, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information Technology Muhammad Ali Rashid, Secretary IT Zulfikar Ali Nizamani, Chairman Sindh Higher Education Commission Dr Tariq Rafi, Chief Executive Officer of Tech Valley Pakistan Umer Farooq, Dr Mazen Abdullah head of Google for Education, Ms Alex Galland APAC Digital Advisor – Google Pakistan and representatives of Google and Tech Valley, senior government officials, university leadership, faculty members and students.
Google Gemini AI training for cabinet members: The CM, Murad Ali Shah, presided over an orientation and training session on Google Gemini AI for cabinet members and senior government officers.
The event commenced with introductions by the Information Technology Department and Tech Valley Pakistan, followed by addresses by the Chief Minister and the CEO of Tech Valley Pakistan. Google-certified master trainers then conducted practical demonstrations on the use of Google Gemini AI and its applications in governance.
Addressing the session, the CM described Artificial Intelligence as one of the most transformative technologies of the modern era and emphasised the importance of preparing government institutions for the future.
He said governments around the world were increasingly adopting AI to improve decision-making, enhance public service delivery and make governance more efficient, transparent and responsive. “Today, we are taking an important step towards preparing the Sindh government for the future. Sindh must be part of this transformation,” he said.
The Chief Minister urged cabinet members to actively engage with emerging technologies and identify practical applications that could improve governance and public service delivery.
Following the AI training programme, the Chief Minister launched the Google Career Certification Programme 2026 and witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among the Science & Information Technology Department, Sindh Higher Education Commission and Tech Valley Pakistan.
Under the programme, 20,000 Google Career Certificate scholarships will be awarded to students enrolled in all public-sector universities across Sindh, enabling them to obtain internationally recognised certifications in high-demand digital fields.
The ceremony concluded with the formal signing of the MoU by the Secretary, Science & Information Technology Department, Chairman Sindh Higher Education Commission and Chief Executive Officer of Tech Valley Pakistan in the presence of the Chief Minister.
Later, the Chief Minister visited NED University of Engineering & Technology, where he inaugurated Sindh’s first Google Gemini for Education Corner, established through a partnership among NED University, Google and Tech Valley Pakistan.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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