Google launches programmes to support developers in Pakistan

Google hosted Think Apps 2024 in Lahore on Wednesday, bringing together nearly 350 of Pakistan's top developers, alongside global and regional industry leaders and experts, according to a statement issued on Thursday.

Building on the success of Think Apps in 2023, this year's event, the largest for the industry, focused on empowering developers to harness AI to drive innovation, growth, and sustainability in Pakistan's expanding app industry.

One of the biggest opportunities for Pakistani developers is creating high-quality, sustainable games. Beyond that, reaching users across the world remains a top priority.

To double down on its commitment to supporting developers, Google is launching new programmes in 2024:

Game design masterclass: This programme brings together Pakistan's most talented game developers from the country's top studios, teaching them to create high-quality games through a dedicated 6-month program.

Google ads academy: These are in-person offline hackathon workshops in Lahore and Islamabad where marketing professionals from across Pakistan's top studios can access in-person training, focusing on app growth strategies.

Build with AI and Cloud AI Study Jams: Developers can also deepen their expertise through hands-on AI and Cloud training. To date, more than 9,300 developers have been trained under this program.

These programmes build on existing initiatives by Google to support developers in Pakistan, including Google App Academy, which has reached over 800 participants to date.

These online workshops for marketing professionals provide in-depth knowledge on critical marketing topics maximizing reach and profitability, and are localized in Urdu.

Additionally, Google is deepening engagement at key events like the Google Developer Conference (US), CXO meetups in APAC, and APAC's App Summit, connecting leaders of Pakistan's top gaming & app studios talent with global peers.

“Pakistan's app and gaming industry has a high potential for long-term future growth,” said Farhan S Qureshi, Google's Director for Pakistan.

“Think Apps 2024 is a testament to our commitment to empowering local developers. By providing access to our AI-powered products and resources, we aim to help them create exceptional games and apps, drive profitability, and build sustainable businesses.

“This will subsequently unlock the opportunity to improve the country's economy through digital export proceeds and provide high-value employment. Google remains dedicated to investing in Pakistan's developer ecosystem and supporting its journey to global success,” the director concluded.