Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurates Sky47, Pakistan’s first purpose-built, AI-ready data centre and sovereign cloud platform. The 8.5MW facility in Islamabad was completed rapidly, with additional capacity planned for Karachi and Lahore.
- Premier Shehbaz terms Sky47 AI cloud a landmark achievement in Pakistan’s digital transformation
- 8.5MW facility completed in record time, with similar infrastructure planned for Karachi and Lahore
- PM says project reflects synergy between military and civilian institutions
- IT minister says centre will power AI innovation, high-performance computing and future digital economy
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday hailed the inauguration of Pakistan’s first-ever and largest artificial intelligence (AI) data centre and Sky47 AI Cloud as a landmark achievement in the country’s digital transformation journey, saying the state-of-the-art facility reflected Pakistan’s growing technological capabilities and demonstrated that world-class projects could be delivered through unity, vision and determination.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the cutting-edge facility in Islamabad, the prime minister said he was deeply impressed after touring the project, which was completed in record time, describing it as an “awe-inspiring” symbol of Pakistan’s technological advancement and innovation.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif inaugurates Sky47, Pakistan’s first purpose-built, AI-ready Tier III/IV data center and sovereign cloud platform, in Rawalpindi on 24 July 2026. pic.twitter.com/hX6SVUnW8x
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) July 24, 2026
The newly inaugurated facility has an initial capacity of 8.5 megawatts, while Sky47 is also developing another 5MW data centre at Port Qasim, Karachi, which is scheduled for completion in September.
PM Shehbaz said the successful completion of the project in such a short period showcased the exceptional talent available in Pakistan’s military and civilian sectors, adding that the country possessed the human capital and technical expertise required to execute world-class initiatives.
وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف اور چیف آف آرمی سٹاف و چیف آف ڈیفنس فورسز فیلڈ مارشل سید عاصم منیر نےپاکستان کے سب سے بڑے ڈیٹا سینٹر اور اے آئی کلاؤڈ سکائی 47 قراقرم ون کا افتتاح کر دیا. وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف نے افتتاحی تقریب سے خطاب کرتے ہوئے کہا کہ متحرک، ترقی پسند اور شاندار… pic.twitter.com/njrL9KNFCQ
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) July 24, 2026
Paying tribute to the engineers, experts and institutions involved, he said the project stood as a shining example of what Pakistan could achieve through professional excellence, innovation and institutional collaboration.
Quoting the national poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the prime minister observed that nations are built not merely with bricks and mortar but through fresh ideas, visionary thinking and collective determination. He stressed that innovation, commitment and a shared national purpose remained the key drivers of sustainable progress.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif addresses the inaugural ceremony of Sky47, Pakistan’s first purpose-built, AI-ready Tier III/IV data center and sovereign cloud platform, in Rawalpindi on 24 July 2026. pic.twitter.com/ECCmQSJkgx
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) July 24, 2026
The prime minister also paid tribute to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir’s leadership, saying the project reflected the remarkable outcomes possible when state institutions worked together with a unified national vision.
He expressed confidence that replicating the same model of coordination and execution across other sectors would enable Pakistan not only to overcome longstanding challenges but also emerge as a modern, dynamic and technologically advanced nation.
“This journey will not be easy, but it is certainly not impossible,” the prime minister said, adding that Pakistan’s success during Marka-e-Haq had already demonstrated that determination, courage and national unity could turn seemingly impossible goals into reality.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshall Syed Asim Munir attending the inaugural ceremony of Sky47, Pakistan’s first purpose built AI Ready Tier III/IV data center and sovereign cloud platform in Rawalpindi on 24… pic.twitter.com/q7KxknvvwP
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) July 24, 2026
He said every major challenge also presented new opportunities, emphasising that strategic planning, innovation and sustained hard work would shape Pakistan’s future in emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
The prime minister acknowledged the contributions of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the IT Secretary, and strategic technology partner ZTE for their role in delivering the project.
Announcing the next phase of the initiative, he said similar AI and cloud infrastructure would soon be established in Karachi and Lahore, further strengthening Pakistan’s digital ecosystem.
PM Shehbaz also directed all state institutions to align themselves with the government’s digital transformation agenda, describing the new AI facility as a priceless gift to the people of Pakistan that would significantly enhance the country’s digital security, technological self-reliance and global competitiveness.
پاکستان کے سب سے بڑے ڈیٹا سینٹر اور اے آئی کلاؤڈ “سکائی 47 قراقرم ون” کا افتتاح؛ وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف اور چیف آف آرمی اسٹاف و چیف آف ڈیفنس فورسز فیلڈ مارشل سید عاصم منیر کی تقریب میں شرکت
“سکائی 47 ڈیٹا سینٹر قراقرم ون کی افتتاحی تقریب میں شرکت میرے لیے باعث اعزاز ہے، جدید… pic.twitter.com/WwJFdCkFNB— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) July 24, 2026
Concluding his address, he once again invoked Allama Iqbal’s message of national unity, reminding the audience that an individual’s strength stemmed from the collective power of the nation. He ended his speech with prayers for Pakistan’s prosperity and stability before raising the slogan, “Pakistan Zindabad.”
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Federal Ministers Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Attaullah Tarar, senior government officials and other distinguished guests.
Data centre to provide critical digital infrastructure: IT minister
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja described the data centre as “a step in the right direction”, saying it laid the foundation for the digital infrastructure required to produce what she called “the most important economic unit today: token intelligence.”
She said access to high-performance computing would become central to future opportunities across sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, financial services, education, public administration, the economy and national security.
Citing international projections, the minister said McKinsey estimated that global demand for data centres would triple by 2030, while Goldman Sachs projected that electricity requirements for such facilities would increase by 160 per cent during the same period.
“This is where Pakistan’s opportunity is extraordinary,” she said.
“We’re a young nation, we’re a large nation, and we’re a nation of stunning human capability.”
Khawaja said Pakistan’s engineers, developers, researchers and entrepreneurs possessed both talent and ambition, but had long lacked the necessary infrastructure—an important gap that the newly inaugurated data centre would now help bridge.
She outlined the country’s broader AI vision, explaining that robust digital infrastructure would enable the development of AI models, orchestration platforms and practical applications capable of delivering AI services to both public and private sectors while supporting national development goals.
The minister also highlighted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Digital Nation Pakistan vision, under which the government had, over the past two years, undertaken key initiatives including the 5G spectrum auction, doubling undersea fibre connectivity, right-of-way reforms for broadband expansion, nationwide AI skills programmes, and the establishment of a growing network of AI startups through National Incubation Centres across Pakistan.
Pakistan’s first locally hosted AI data centre and sovereign AI cloud was launched by Telenor in partnership with Data Vault in November 2025.
Last month, Quantum Global Data Centre (QGDC), a venture of the Gul Ahmed Energy Group, announced plans to establish Pakistan’s largest Tier III data centre, expected to become operational in 2027 with an initial investment of $230 million. QGDC also signed a strategic partnership agreement with Huawei Pakistan to develop the facility and a science and technology park to accelerate Pakistan’s digital transformation.
The government’s push towards artificial intelligence has gathered significant momentum in recent years, with institutions such as the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) introducing AI-based internal systems to improve transparency, reduce human intervention and enhance tax collection efficiency.
Earlier, in February 2025, a Tier III-certified data centre was inaugurated at the NED University of Engineering and Technology, providing advanced IT services to both the public and private sectors.
