Islamabad, July 24, 2026(Kamran Raja): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, inaugurated Sky47 Karakoram One, Pakistan’s largest data center and artificial intelligence (AI) cloud facility, marking a significant milestone in the country’s digital transformation journey.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the Sky47 project as a landmark initiative that would play a vital role in shaping a dynamic, progressive, and prosperous future for Pakistan. He said the project represents a major step toward technological self-reliance and will strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure and security capabilities.
The Prime Minister praised the successful completion of the state-of-the-art facility within a short period of time, attributing its achievement to extraordinary commitment, strong determination, and technical excellence. He noted that projects of this nature demonstrate what can be accomplished when vision, innovation, and national resolve come together.
“Challenges and difficulties are inevitable, but when they are met with hope, courage, and determination, historic achievements become possible,” the Prime Minister said. “Sky47 is a guarantee of Pakistan’s future and a testament to our ability to build world-class technological capabilities.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, technology partner ZTE, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and all stakeholders involved in bringing the project to fruition. He also announced that similar facilities are planned for Karachi and Lahore and emphasized the importance of connecting government institutions to the new digital infrastructure.
The Prime Minister described the facility as a valuable national asset that will support secure data management, strengthen digital resilience, and provide a robust foundation for Pakistan’s growing digital economy. He stressed that unity and collective effort would enable the nation to achieve even the most ambitious goals.
Earlier, the Prime Minister and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir received a detailed briefing on the capabilities and operational framework of the data center.
Speaking at the ceremony, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the inauguration of Sky47 Data Center marks the beginning of a new era of artificial intelligence in Pakistan. She highlighted the growing importance of data-driven innovation and emphasized that future economic competitiveness would increasingly depend on the effective and secure use of data.
She noted that the facility is equipped with advanced storage systems, high-performance computing infrastructure, and powerful GPU capabilities designed to support AI applications, machine learning, and large-scale digital services.
Sky47 Chief Executive Officer Hassan Abbas stated that while more than 12,000 data centers operate worldwide, Pakistan currently has only 22, underscoring the country’s vast potential for digital growth. He noted that Pakistan’s e-commerce sector is expanding by approximately 25 to 30 percent annually and said the new facility would provide a strong foundation for future digital development.
Sky47 Karakoram One represents a significant advancement in Pakistan’s pursuit of technological self-reliance. The facility is designed to support artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, data hosting, and high-performance computing requirements while ensuring the secure storage of sensitive national and commercial information. It is expected to play a pivotal role in strengthening Pakistan’s digital ecosystem and accelerating the country’s transition toward a knowledge-based economy.