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Saudi Arabia’s GO Telecom launches AI hub in Islamabad to boost digital cooperation

Pakistan and Saudi GO Telecom officials launch AI Hub in Islamabad, Pakistan, October 18, 2025. (PID)
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Updated 18 October 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s GO Telecom launches AI hub in Islamabad to boost digital cooperation

  • The initiative underscores growing Saudi investment in Pakistan’s digital sector
  • It aims to open new avenues for Pakistani startups in training and innovation
Updated 18 October 2025
Hasaan Ali Khan

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia’s GO Telecom has opened an artificial intelligence (AI) hub in Islamabad to boost cooperation in AI and data infrastructure, Pakistan’s IT ministry said on Saturday.

The initiative, underscores growing Saudi investment in Pakistan’s digital sector, follows IT and Telecommunications Minister Shaza Khawaja’s visit to Saudi Arabia to discuss bilateral cooperation under Saudi Vision 2030 and Pakistan’s National AI Policy 2025. She met with GO Telecommunications Group CEO Yahya bin Saleh Al-Mansour in Riyadh to discuss collaboration in digital infrastructure, AI and human capital development.

GO Telecom, a key player in Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation offering cloud and data services, has expanded regionally through partnerships with Oman’s Data Park and a majority stake in Ejad Tech. The planned AI hub marks its first major tech venture in Pakistan, broadening its international footprint beyond the petroleum sector.

“In a landmark step toward advancing Pakistan–KSA digital collaboration, GO AI Hub, Pakistan was inaugurated today in Islamabad through joint initiative of Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and KSA’s GO Telecom,” the IT ministry said in a statement.

The launch ceremony was attended by IT Minister Khawaja, GO Telecom CEO Al-Mansour and senior officials from Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council.

The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) this month welcomed the initiative, saying the AI hub would open new avenues for Pakistani startups in training, innovation and bilateral collaboration.

“This is an excellent initiative as it will provide Pakistani AI and telecommunications companies with access to the GO Telecom Group’s platform, enabling greater collaboration and growth opportunities,” P@SHA Chairman Sajjad Mustafa Syed had told Arab News.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have long enjoyed close ties, but in recent years have sought to broaden their cooperation further. During Prime Minister Shehaz Sharif’s visit to Riyadh in October 2024, they signed 34 MoUs worth $2.8 billion across multiple sectors.

Both countries are now planning to forge a partnership in the fields of AI and cybersecurity.

Topics: Pakistan Saudi Ties AI Hub Go Telecom

Pakistan’s PIA, Bangladeshi Biman airlines sign cargo deal to augment trade

Updated 17 November 2025
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Pakistan’s PIA, Bangladeshi Biman airlines sign cargo deal to augment trade

  • The partnership will minimize complexities in transporting textiles, pharmaceuticals and agricultural products
  • PIA will utilize key Saudi Arabian hubs of Jeddah, Madinah and Riyadh as transit gateways, the airline says
Updated 17 November 2025
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: The state-owned Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Biman Bangladesh Airlines have signed a deal to streamline air cargo and augment bilateral trade, a PIA spokesman said on Monday, amid a thaw in relations between the two countries.

Pakistan and Bangladesh used to be one nation, but they split in 1971 as a result of a bloody civil war, which saw the part previously referred to as East Pakistan seceding to form the independent nation of Bangladesh.

Ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh have warmed up since the fall of former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who was widely viewed as close to India and critical of Pakistan, following a student-led uprising in August 2024.

The PIA spokesman said the airline has signed a Cargo Interline Special Agreement with Biman airlines as part of the former’s plans to expand cargo business and to provide competitive services to customers. The agreement will be effective from Dec. 1.

“The partnership will also facilitate in minimizing logistical complexities in transporting commodities such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural products,” the PIA spokesman said.

“The airline will utilize key Saudi Arabian hubs that are Jeddah, Madinah, and Riyadh, as transit gateways, establishing a strategic corridor for regional trade.”

Islamabad has attempted to forge closer ties with Bangladesh in recent months as relations remain frosty between Dhaka and New Delhi over India’s decision to grant asylum to Hasina after she fled the country.

In Feb., a first cargo ship in decades sailed directly from Pakistan to Bangladesh and successfully unloaded its containers, port officials said. Pakistan is also mulling resumption of direct flights to Dhaka.

The two countries signed six agreements in Aug. relating to visa abolition for diplomatic and official passport holders, Joint Working Group on Trade, foreign services academies of Pakistan and Bangladesh, the Associated Press of Pakistan

Corporation and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad and the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies, and a cultural exchange program.

Topics: Pakistan International Airlines

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