On August 20, Google announced a $500,000 investment to launch the ‘Digital Pasban’ initiative in Pakistan, aimed at improving digital literacy and online safety. The programme will provide 200,000 households with Urdu-language digital safety tools, parental workshops and AI-safety resources.
Supported by Google.org, the initiative was announced at the ‘Safe Raho with Google’ event in collaboration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Tech Valley, and educational institutions. It will introduce families to tools including Family Link, a free parental control app; age-appropriate settings on YouTube; and Be Internet Awesome and guidance on responsible use of Gemini.
Separately, Google and the PTA signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen child online safety through awareness campaigns and digital literacy programmes for children, parents, teachers, and caregivers.
PTA Chairman Retired Major General Hafeezur Rehman stressed the need for greater cooperation among stakeholders to protect children from online risks, while Google’s Cluster Director for Pakistan, Farhan Qureshi, highlighted Pakistan’s potential in content creation, gaming, freelancing, and technology.
The initiative follows the recent opening of Google’s Karachi office, reflecting the company’s growing presence and long-term engagement in Pakistan.
