Google has launched Digital Pasban in Pakistan, a nationwide online-safety initiative aimed at helping parents, children and educators navigate the digital world more safely. The initiative will target 200,000 households with Urdu-language resources, practical safety training and tools for responsible use of the internet and artificial intelligence.

Google unveiled Digital Pasban at its Safe Raho with Google event in Pakistan, bringing together technology, education, telecommunications and media partners to address the growing need for digital safety as more families rely on the internet for education, communication, entertainment and everyday activities.

The initiative combines practical technology tools with digital literacy and parent-focused education, giving families the knowledge and resources needed to identify online risks and make safer decisions.

A Nationwide Push for Digital Safety

Digital Pasban aims to reach 200,000 households through localized Urdu-language toolkits, instructional videos, SMS alerts, broadcast media campaigns, school-based activities and community engagement.

Google is working with several organizations as part of the initiative, including the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Tech Valley, Beaconhouse School System, Jazz World and HUM Network. The effort is also supported by Pakistan’s Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, and Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination.

Rather than focusing solely on restricting children’s access to technology, Digital Pasban emphasizes education, responsible use and giving parents practical tools to help their children navigate the internet.

Four Pillars of Google’s Digital Pasban

At the heart of the initiative are four Google products and programs designed to address different aspects of online safety and digital literacy.

1. Family Link: Giving Parents More Control

Google Family Link provides parents with tools to manage their children’s digital experiences. Parents can set screen-time limits, approve or restrict applications, manage content settings and use device-location features.

The goal is to help parents establish healthier digital routines while giving children an age-appropriate online environment.

2. YouTube: Safer Viewing and Time Management

YouTube’s parental controls allow families to manage content and establish healthier viewing habits through features such as Take a Break and Bedtime reminders.

Google is also introducing a feature that allows parents to control how much time their children spend watching YouTube Shorts, including the option to set Shorts viewing time to zero. This gives parents greater flexibility to limit short-form content when children need to concentrate on schoolwork or other activities.

3. Be Internet Awesome: Teaching Children Digital Citizenship

For younger users, Google’s Be Internet Awesome program introduces online safety through interactive and engaging educational content.

Designed for children aged 7 to 12, the program promotes five core principles: sharing information carefully, recognizing scams, creating secure passwords, treating others respectfully and reporting problems.

The lessons are reinforced through Interland, an interactive game that turns digital-safety concepts into practical experiences for children.

4. Gemini: Encouraging Responsible AI Use

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly common in education and everyday life, Digital Pasban also introduces parents and children to Gemini as a tool that should be used responsibly.

Google highlights built-in protections for younger users, including restrictions around harmful role-play and inappropriate content. Gemini’s Guided Learning feature can also support students by helping them work through difficult subjects, asking targeted questions, explaining concepts step by step and providing visual assistance rather than simply giving them an answer.

Taking Online Safety Beyond the Screen

A key part of Digital Pasban is its focus on community-based education.

Google Pakistan and its partners plan to bring the initiative into local communities through parent and guardian safety clinics, school-based town halls, social media campaigns, SMS communication and broadcast media.

These sessions are designed to be practical rather than purely theoretical. Parents can work through real-world scenarios, explore safety settings and learn how to respond to common digital risks alongside other families.

The approach recognizes that technology changes quickly and that parents often need guidance that goes beyond simply knowing which apps their children use.

Google.org Commits $500,000

Alongside the Digital Pasban initiative, Google.org is committing $500,000 to expand evidence-based digital citizenship and AI-safety programs across Pakistan.

Working with local partners, the funding is intended to provide young people and adults with practical skills for building healthier online habits, understanding emerging digital risks and using technology with greater confidence.

What Pakistan’s Digital Leaders Are Saying

PTA Chairman Major General (Retired) Hafeez Ur Rehman described Digital Pasban as a joint effort to build a safer digital environment for children and families in Pakistan.

He highlighted the initiative’s combination of practical tools, localized resources and school-based engagement as a way to help parents guide children toward safer and more responsible digital experiences.

Farhan Qureshi, Google’s Cluster Director for Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand and Frontier Markets, said Pakistan’s digital ecosystem is expanding rapidly and that protecting children online should go hand in hand with giving them access to technology.

According to Qureshi, Google’s approach is to build safety into its products while strengthening that foundation through initiatives such as Digital Pasban, which give families the digital-literacy skills they need to use the internet with confidence.

Tech Valley CEO Umar Farooq said the initiative addresses a growing gap between children’s increasing use of technology and parents’ ability to guide them through the digital environment. He described the planned safety clinics and parental toolkits as practical resources that families can apply immediately.

Aamir Ibrahim, CEO of JazzWorld, called Digital Pasban a meaningful step toward providing parents and children with practical safety tools, awareness and guidance.

Building on Google’s Digital Education Efforts in Pakistan

Digital Pasban also builds on Google’s previous digital-education initiatives in Pakistan.

Through the Digital Safar program, Google says it has trained more than 300,000 students and 5,000 educators in digital citizenship, combining Be Internet Awesome content with Gemini Academy training.

Google has also partnered with the Punjab government, supporting the migration of its Ministry of Education to Google for Education and extending secure, AI-powered learning tools and safety curricula to 1.5 million students.

A Safer Digital Future for Pakistan

With internet access continuing to expand across Pakistan, the challenge is no longer simply getting families online. Increasingly, it is helping them understand how to use digital platforms safely and responsibly.

Digital Pasban represents Google’s effort to address that challenge through a combination of technology, education, parental guidance and cross-sector collaboration.

By targeting 200,000 households and supporting broader digital-safety programs through Google.org funding, the initiative places digital literacy and online protection at the center of Pakistan’s increasingly connected future.

For Pakistani families, the message behind Digital Pasban is straightforward: being connected should also mean being informed, protected and prepared.

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Coursera has announced plans to acquire rival online education company Udemy in an all-stock transaction that values the combined business at $2.5 billion. The deal comes as the online education sector continues to consolidate following a post-pandemic slowdown and increased investor scrutiny.

Under the agreement, Udemy shareholders will receive 0.8 shares of Coursera for each Udemy share they own, valuing Udemy at approximately $930 million, according to Reuters calculations. Following the announcement, Coursera shares rose about 4%, while Udemy stock surged nearly 22%.

Focus on AI and Workforce Upskilling

Both companies believe the merger will strengthen their ability to serve corporate clients seeking workforce training—particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), data science, and software development. As generative AI rapidly reshapes industries, employers are investing heavily in reskilling and upskilling their employees.

“At a high level, this deal makes sense both strategically and financially,” said Stephen Sheldon, an analyst at William Blair. He noted that the companies’ complementary content libraries and overlapping markets could unlock meaningful cost synergies.

Deal Timeline and Valuation

Based on Coursera’s most recent closing price, the offer values Udemy shares at $6.35, representing a premium of about 18.3%. The companies expect the transaction to close in the second half of next year, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals.

Different Models, One Platform

Coursera is known for partnering with universities and institutions to offer degree programs and professional certificates, while Udemy operates a marketplace of independent instructors, selling individual courses and enterprise subscriptions. The merger aims to combine these strengths into a single, more competitive platform.

Investor Caution Persists

Despite strong narratives around AI-driven growth, investors remain cautious about online education stocks due to intense competition, pricing pressures, and uncertain returns on AI investments. Udemy shares are down roughly 35% year-to-date, while Coursera has declined about 7%, leaving both companies trading well below their post-IPO highs.

If approved, the Coursera–Udemy merger could mark one of the most significant consolidations in online education, positioning the combined firm to better compete in the fast-growing AI training market.

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The Sindh government has signed major investment deals worth €100 million (about Rs 31 billion) to build Pakistan’s biggest technology zone in Karachi. This project aims to create Pakistan’s own version of Silicon Valley.

The deals were signed for the Special Technology Zone (STZ) at Karachi Education City, which will be spread over 435 acres. Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah held the signing ceremony at his official residence.

What’s Being Built

Karachi Education City covers 9,000 acres and was originally planned for top universities and research centers. Now it will also become a major technology hub where IT companies can set up their offices and factories.

The project includes:

• A special zone for technology companies
• Clean energy systems powered by solar and wind
• Manufacturing facilities for energy storage equipment
• Modern infrastructure for international businesses

The Investment Details

Two Swiss companies signed agreements during the ceremony:

• M/S Meeco AG will provide renewable energy (solar and wind power) to the entire zone
• M/s Meeco Holding will build a factory to make energy storage systems and batteries

These companies will help make sure the tech zone runs on clean, reliable electricity – something that’s important for attracting foreign companies.

Why This Matters

This investment is expected to:

• Create thousands of new jobs for skilled Pakistani workers
• Bring more foreign companies to invest in Pakistan
• Increase Pakistan’s IT exports to other countries
• Make Karachi a major technology center in the region

The federal government is building similar tech zones in other cities across Pakistan, but the Karachi zone is one of the largest and most important.

Senior government officials including Investment Secretary Raja Khurram Shahzad and Project Director Abrar Sheikh attended the ceremony, showing the government’s strong support for this project. The investment shows that international companies have confidence in Pakistan’s growing technology sector and want to be part of its future growth.

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Imagine a university where everything—from applying for admission to receiving your degree—is just a click away. That future is arriving in Pakistan, thanks to the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

Through its ambitious Higher Education Development Program in Pakistan (HEDP), funded by the World Bank, HEC is introducing Maktab—a world-class digital system that automates the entire student journey. So far, 11 universities have signed up, and this week, five more joined the mission to modernize.

These newly onboarded institutions include:

• University of Narowal

• Emerson University, Multan

• Women University, Mardan

• Shuhada-e-Army Public School University of Technology, Nowshera

• University of Buner

Senior officials from these universities gathered in Islamabad for hands-on training sessions hosted by HEC. The closing session was led by Dr. Jameel Ahmed, Member IT, and Mr. Awais Ahmed, Program Coordinator HEDP, who encouraged the universities to embrace this digital leap forward.

“The world’s top universities are already automated,” Dr. Ahmed said. “Now, Pakistan’s turn has come.”

Maktab, developed in partnership with TMC, is more than just software—it’s a complete digital overhaul. From managing classes and finances to tracking student progress and data, it streamlines everything under one platform. It also reduces costs and delivers a smoother experience for students and faculty alike.

But HEC’s digital vision goes far beyond this.

They’re building secure local cloud services, high-performance computing facilities, and two major data centers—one in Lahore and another in Karachi—so that universities don’t have to rely on expensive foreign tools. These centers, called Astrolabes, will serve as the digital backbone for Pakistan’s higher education system.

All of this is part of a larger dream: to help Pakistan’s universities stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world.

With technology like Maktab, and the support of a $400 million transformation fund, that dream is no longer far away.

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In a historic achievement, Pakistan has won its first Gold Medal at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO) — a global competition for the brightest science students.

Abdul Raffay Paracha, a student of Siddique Public School, made the nation proud by clinching the Gold at the 35th IBO, held in the Philippines from July 20–27, 2025.

This win is a major milestone under the Pakistan Gold Medal International Science Olympiad campaign, part of the STEM Careers Programme — a joint initiative of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and PIEAS (Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences).

The national team was mentored by Dr. Asma Imran and Dr. Asma Rehman from NIBGE, a leading biotech institute under PIEAS and the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC).

More Wins for Team Pakistan

• Ayyan Aslam, from Government College University Lahore, earned an Honourable Mention.

• Team members Sadia Zulfiqar (Siddique Public School, Rawalpindi) and Arooj Fatima (Fusion College, Shakargarh) also represented Pakistan.

PIEAS, under PAEC, organizes the National Science Talent Contest (NSTC) every year in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics to find and train top talent for global science contests.

Since Pakistan’s debut at the International Physics Olympiad in 2001, over 380 students have represented the country, winning 140+ international medals. More than 4,500 students have been trained through 240+ science camps nationwide.

This gold medal win not only celebrates academic brilliance but also signals Pakistan’s growing presence in international STEM competitions.

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In a groundbreaking move to enhance digital literacy and employment prospects, the Sindh government has announced a partnership with Google and Tech Valley Pakistan to provide over 30,000 scholarships for digital skills training. The initiative aims to equip students from public sector universities with globally recognized certifications in high-demand fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Digital Marketing, IT Automation, and Project Management.

The programme was unveiled during a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at CM House. Speaking on the occasion, Shah highlighted the government’s commitment to fostering innovation and skill development in the province. “This partnership is a testament to our vision of transforming Sindh into a hub of innovation and skill development,” he stated.

A key feature of the initiative is its focus on gender inclusivity, ensuring that at least 30% of the scholarships are awarded to female students. The Google Career Certificates, designed by industry experts, offer flexible online courses that can be completed within three to six months, without requiring a formal degree. Graduates from previous cohorts have successfully secured positions in leading companies, with reported salaries reaching up to Rs 1.6 million per month.

Among the notable success stories is Leena Kumari, a student from the University of Sindh, Jamshoro, who completed the Google AI Essentials course and secured employment at Evolution. Her achievement was recognized and featured by Google, underscoring the real-world impact of the programme.

Expanding its reach, the initiative will be implemented across 30 public universities and introduce new specializations such as Prompting Essentials and Agile Essentials. Additionally, it aligns with the ongoing Soft Skills & Career Kamyabi Sindh Programme, which trains students in CV writing, interview techniques, and professional communication skills.

Kyle Gardener, Government Affairs & Public Policy Lead at Google, reaffirmed Google’s commitment to supporting students in unlocking new career opportunities and contributing to economic growth.

“This initiative reflects our dedication to empowering students with future-ready skills that will drive Pakistan’s digital transformation,” he said.

The Sindh government’s strategic collaboration with Google marks a significant step towards bridging the digital divide and fostering a skilled workforce ready to meet the demands of the global tech industry.

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Google has announced the launch of its new AI Academy, designed to accelerate the growth of artificial intelligence startups in Pakistan and the broader Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. The announcement was made through a press release on Monday.

New AI Academy to Drive Cross-Border Innovations

The AI Academy aims to foster new cross-border innovations and partnerships, promoting the exchange of ideas, expertise, and resources to expedite AI solution development. Google’s PR agency emphasized that this initiative will position the APAC region as a global hub for AI advancement.

Google for Startups Launches AI Academy Program

“Google for Startups has introduced a new program called AI Academy to help accelerate the growth of artificial intelligence startups in Pakistan and the APAC region,” the press release stated. Initially, the program will support over 20 startups focused on AI technologies.

Personalized Guidance and Substantial Cloud Credits for Participants

Participants in the AI Academy will receive individual guidance from Google’s global AI experts. Each startup will also be eligible for up to $350,000 in Google Cloud Credit to aid AI development and experimentation. The program includes opportunities for networking and collaboration with other AI startups across the region.

Fast-Tracking Startups to Market

The AI Academy is structured to fast-track startups to market, enabling them to develop proof of concept and product roadmaps, thereby swiftly validating their AI solutions. This accelerated process aims to expedite their path to success and demonstrate the tangible value of their innovations in the AI sector.

Significance for Pakistan’s AI Ecosystem

Google Pakistan Country Director, Farhan S. Qureshi, highlighted the importance of this initiative for the local market. “With Pakistan being an important market, we hope that local startup companies will take advantage of this opportunity to improve their AI solutions and further strengthen the AI ecosystem in the Asia-Pacific region,” he said.

Application Deadline for Google AI Academy Program

Applications for the AI Academy program are open until August 16, providing a crucial opportunity for Pakistani startups to join a regional push towards advanced AI development.

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Internet users who want quick responses to a variety of questions and tasks have grown increasingly fond of the AI chatbot created by OpenAI, called ChatGPT. Educators are extremely concerned about students turning in papers that were produced by ChatGPT because of this tendency, though.

As a result, Stanford University researchers developed a tool called DetectGPT to assist teachers in identifying content produced by ChatGPT and other comparable large language models (LLMs).OpenAI has stated that it is developing a detecting tool after New York forbade public school pupils from using ChatGPT for academic purposes.

DetectGPT is a tool designed to recognise texts published by ChatGPT or other chatbots of a similar nature. These AI-generated sentences “occupy negative curvature regions of the model’s log probability function,” according to the academics who created them. By examining the log probability, this information aids DetectGPT in determining whether a text was created by a particular language model. According to the researchers, DetectGPT is accurate 95% of the time.

Machine learning and artificial intelligence both employ the mathematical idea of log probability functions. It is used to calculate the likelihood or degree of confidence that an event will occur. Particularly in applications like natural language processing and language synthesis, the logarithmic transformation of probability facilitates comparison and result interpretation.

This enables a more precise assessment of the text produced by the AI models.

Educational institutions have developed a tool called DetectGPT to assist in catching students who use programmes like ChatGPT to write their papers and other assignments.

Unfortunately, the creators of DetectGPT have not yet provided much information about their product, and nobody can currently use it. However, the creation of such tools is a positive step toward ensuring that students submit their work in an honest and reliable manner.

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The Ministry of IT & Telecommunications recently hosted a ceremony at the Faculty of Law, University of Turbat, to distribute stipends to the successful trainees of the Ignite-funded DigitalSkills Training & Support Program for Southern Balochistan.

Sadiq Iftikhar, Minister of State for IT & Telecom, attended the ceremony as the special guest of honour. Other luminaries that attended the occasion as guests of honour included Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch, a former chief minister of Balochistan, and Lala Rasheed Dashti, a chief minister of Baluchistan’s advisor.

Speaking at the event, Sadiq Iftikhar expressed his pride at seeing so many young people in Balochistan committed to learning and education. The State Minister stressed the need of making collective efforts to advance IT education in this region of the nation.

Additionally, he emphasised the value of digital skills and the IT ministry’s contribution to the province’s development of qualified human resources. He thanked Ignite, Virtual University, the Universities of Turbat, Gwadar, and BUET Khuzdar for their efforts and congratulated the participants on the accomplishment of the training project in Balochistan.

In a video greeting to the attendees, Ignite’s CEO Asim Shahryar Husain described Ignite’s digiskills.pk programme, which is Pakistan’s largest online training programme for independent contractors and has more than 3 million students enrolled in 15 different freelancing courses over the past four years.

Freelancers taught by digiskills.pk are expected to make $290 million between 2021 and 2022, according to a third-party earnings analysis done last year.

According to him, the Ministry of IT, Ignite, and VU decided to start classroom-based training in three Southern Baluchistan districts—Turbat, Khuzdar, and Gwadar—in January of last year as a result of connectivity problems in that region.

In contrast to a goal of 5,000 enrollments, VU and Ignite have attained 7,800 enrollments after one year, proving the program’s success. The fact that 33% of the enrollees are female freelancers speaks something about their dedication to education and independence.

He praised the freelancers who had benefited from this training session and expressed his wish that they would soon find lucrative local and international freelancing jobs to support their families.

The chief guest ultimately gave out stipends to the freelancers who had successfully completed the digiskills trainings.

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The College Education Department (CED) in Sindh has implemented an online attendance system for students in order to digitise the management of student attendance.

Details indicate that the new system will allow teachers to record student attendance. The technology will also inform parents of their children’s absences.CED Sindh thinks that by implementing the online attendance system, the flaws in the manual attendance system will be permanently fixed.

After a two-month summer break, educational institutions all throughout Sindh resumed for academic activity earlier this month on August 1.The province’s public and private schools and universities began their summer breaks on June 1 and finished on July 31.

It was announced a few days prior to August 1 that the Sindh Education and Literacy Department (SELD) had decided to prolong the summer break till August 15 due to bad weather. SELD quickly confirmed, however, that the educational institutions will resume on time.

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