ISLAMABAD (MNN); Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday inaugurated Pakistan’s largest AI data centre and Sky47 AI Cloud in Islamabad, describing the state-of-the-art facility as a milestone in the country’s digital transformation and technological advancement.
The newly launched data centre has an initial power capacity of 8.5 megawatts (MW), while Sky47 is also constructing a 5MW data centre at Port Qasim in Karachi, which is expected to become operational in September.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the facility “awe-inspiring” and praised the engineers, experts and professionals from both the military and civilian sectors who completed the project in record time.
The premier commended the leadership of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, under whose supervision the project was developed, saying the initiative reflected Pakistan’s growing technological capabilities.
He expressed confidence that if similar models were adopted across different sectors, Pakistan could overcome past challenges and emerge as a modern, innovative and digitally empowered nation.
Referring to Marka-i-Haq, Prime Minister Shehbaz said national achievements prove that determination and unity can transform challenges into opportunities. He stressed that despite economic and technological hurdles, Pakistan possesses the talent and determination needed to build a stronger future.
Describing the AI data centre as “the future of Pakistan,” the prime minister announced that similar facilities would also be established in Karachi and Lahore to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure.
He urged all government institutions to integrate their digital operations with the new facility, saying it would provide highly secure, reliable and sovereign cloud infrastructure while accelerating Pakistan’s transition toward a knowledge-based economy.
IT Minister Highlights AI Opportunities
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja described the project as a major step toward building Pakistan’s digital economy.
She said the facility would provide the high-performance computing infrastructure needed to power artificial intelligence across sectors including healthcare, agriculture, education, financial services, public administration, national security and industry.
Citing global research, the minister said McKinsey projects worldwide demand for data centres to triple by 2030, while Goldman Sachs estimates electricity demand for AI infrastructure will increase by 160 percent during the same period.
She noted that Pakistan’s greatest strength lies in its young and talented workforce, adding that the country has no shortage of skilled engineers, developers, researchers and entrepreneurs—only world-class infrastructure, which projects like Sky47 aim to provide.
The minister also highlighted key achievements under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Digital Nation Pakistan vision, including the successful 5G spectrum auction, expansion of undersea fibre connectivity, broadband right-of-way reforms, nationwide AI skills programmes and support for AI startups through National Incubation Centres.
Pakistan’s digital infrastructure has expanded rapidly in recent years. The country’s first locally hosted sovereign AI cloud was launched in partnership between Telenor Pakistan and Data Vault in November 2025, while Quantum Global Data Centre (QGDC) recently announced a 230-million-dollar Tier III data centre project in collaboration with Huawei Pakistan, expected to begin operations in 2027.
Government institutions are also increasingly adopting artificial intelligence, with departments such as the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) deploying AI-powered systems to improve transparency and enhance tax collection.
