Rawalpindi, 24 July 2026

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, inaugurated Sky47 Karakoram One, described as Pakistan’s largest data centre and AI cloud platform. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held in Rawalpindi on July 24, 2026, the Prime Minister said the project represents a significant milestone in the country’s journey toward a modern, technology-driven future.

He described the Sky47 initiative as a major step toward building a dynamic and progressive Pakistan, emphasizing that determination, resilience, and collective effort can help the nation overcome challenges and achieve historic milestones. He said the project would strengthen Pakistan’s digital infrastructure, enhance national security, and serve as an important foundation for the country’s future technological development.

The ceremony was attended by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers, senior government officials, and representatives from the technology sector. The Prime Minister praised the state-of-the-art facility, calling it an impressive achievement that was completed in a remarkably short period through dedication, technical expertise, and strong commitment.

He noted that adopting similar models of innovation and execution could help Pakistan recover from past setbacks while accelerating economic and technological progress. Referring to the importance of unity and resolve, he said the country’s recent achievements demonstrate that ambitious goals can be accomplished when institutions and stakeholders work together.

The Prime Minister also acknowledged the contributions of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, technology partner ZTE, Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the Ministry of IT, and all stakeholders involved in the project. He expressed hope that similar data centers would also be developed in Karachi and Lahore and encouraged government institutions to integrate with the new digital infrastructure.

Highlighting the strategic importance of the initiative, he said the Sky47 project would provide secure digital infrastructure for the country while supporting Pakistan’s long-term technological ambitions. He added that the project reflects the potential of collaboration and innovation in driving national development. Before the ceremony, the Prime Minister and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir were briefed on the facility’s capabilities and operational plans.

Addressing the event, Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the launch of the Sky47 Data Center marks the beginning of a new era for artificial intelligence in Pakistan. She said the facility would help unlock new economic opportunities by enabling better use of the country’s resources and skilled workforce. She emphasized that data-driven insights are becoming a key driver of economic growth and noted that the future of AI will depend on secure, efficient, and cost-effective data infrastructure. She added that the facility will feature advanced storage systems, GPUs, and high-performance computing capabilities to support AI applications.

Sky47 CEO Hassan Abbas highlighted the growing need for digital infrastructure, noting that while there are around 12,000 data centers globally, Pakistan currently has only 22. He said the country’s digital economy has significant room for expansion, with e-commerce growing at an annual rate of 25 to 30 percent. According to him, the new data center lays a strong foundation for Pakistan’s digital transformation and future growth.

Sky47 Karakoram One is designed to support artificial intelligence, machine learning, high-performance computing, cloud services, data hosting, and secure digital operations. The facility is expected to strengthen Pakistan’s technological self-reliance while providing secure infrastructure for safeguarding sensitive national and commercial data.