KARACHI: US-based data-center operator Datarocx has signed a partnership with Pakistan’s Data Vault to establish advanced computing facilities in the country, in a move the companies said on Tuesday will help Pakistan run artificial intelligence (AI) systems on local infrastructure rather than relying on foreign servers.

The agreement, signed in San Francisco, will bring Datarocx’s operating model from the United States into Pakistan, while Data Vault will run secure, Pakistan-based cloud systems. Both sides say the project could lead to large investment in hardware used to train and run AI models, including specialized chips and high-performance computers.

Datarocx has received certification from Pakistan’s Special Technology Zones Authority, a government body that grants tax and regulatory incentives to technology investors. The partners say this will allow them to scale data-center operations faster and attract foreign customers seeking to deploy AI applications inside Pakistan.

“We are committing meaningful, long-term capital into Pakistan’s AI infrastructure,” said Baber Saeed, CEO of Datarocx. 

“By combining STZA’s vision with Datarocx’s global operating model and Data Vault’s in country strength, we are creating an AI platform that international customers can trust from day one, for performance, security and compliance.”

The companies say their data centers will host powerful computers designed for AI training and for real-time decision-making known as inference. They also aim to provide secure cloud environments for banks, government agencies and private firms that require data to remain inside the country.

“Pakistan has the talent, the ambition, and now, with Data Vault and Datarocx, the infrastructure to compete at the highest level of AI,” said Mehwish Salman Ali, Founder and CEO of Data Vault. 

“This is not just another data center deal as this is a strategic bet on Pakistan’s future as an AI nation and on our ability to serve the world from here.”

No rollout timeline or confirmed capital amount has been disclosed, though both firms say investment will be phased and long-term.

The initiative is expected to create skilled jobs in software engineering, data-center operations and cybersecurity, while giving universities and startups access to large-scale computing capacity that is currently limited in Pakistan. Analysts say such infrastructure is becoming essential as companies worldwide deploy generative AI and large-language-model technologies.