LAHORE, Pakistan, November 10th – Google and Tech Valley celebrated two years of Digital Sahafat at an event held at the Pearl Continental Hotel in Lahore. Digital Sahafat trained Pakistani journalists and journalism students to use Google AI tools to verify information, work more efficiently and build sustainable newsroom practices. The event marked the program’s progress since 2024 and its expansion into Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The event was attended by Ali Dar, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Punjab on AI, International Cooperations and Special Initiatives, and media industry leaders such as Sultana Siddiqui, Founder & Chairperson, Hum Network. They were joined by representatives from the Google and Tech Valley team including Kate Beddoe, Managing Director, News Partnerships, APAC and Umar Farooq, Founder and CEO, Tech Valley. Policymakers, senior journalists, media executives and program participants were also present at the event.
“No government can do this alone. It takes Google, Tech Valley, our universities, and our media houses working together. That to me is what fiuture-fiorward Pakistan means,” said Ali
Dar, Advisor to The Chiefi Minister ofi Punjab on AI, International Cooperation and Special Initiatives.
Empowering Pakistan’s newsrooms in the AI era
As we enter the AI era, Pakistani journalists have a unique opportunity to elevate their storytelling and strengthen the verification of online content. To support journalists with hands-on access to the latest AI tools and training, Google launched Digital Sahafat in partnership with Tech Valley in September 2024.
Through a cascade training model, Tech Valley, an ed-tech social enterprise, empowers Master Trainers to instruct journalists, media practitioners, and students nationwide. The initiative has been delivered in collaboration with prominent media partners (HUM News, Express 24/7, Samaa Digital, and Bol News), government bodies (including the Higher Education Department of Punjab, the Science and IT Department of Sindh, and the Information Departments of Balochistan and Sindh), and leading universities such as Beaconhouse National University, International Islamic University Islamabad, Sindh Madressatul Islam University, Bahria University, and the University of Karachi.
“Our objective is not simply to introduce technology, but to build the capacity to sustain it. Through One Google in Pakistan, we have helped upskill over one million Pakistanis. Digital Sahafiat brings that same approach to journalism, and together we are building a trusted, AI-ready Pakistan.” said Umar Farooq, Founder and CEO, Tech Valley.
Impact since 2024: More than 4,000 journalists trained across fiour provinces
Since 2024, Digital Sahafat has trained over 4,000 journalists, journalism students, and media practitioners, and more than 60 Master Trainers across Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Findings from the program’s 2025 participant surveys showed that:
- 85% of participants now use Google AI tools in their daily
- Nearly 68% of participants saved more than 25% of their time on daily
- Participants reported a 260% uplift in confidence using
“I am proud to celebrate the impact ofi Digital Sahafiat. Seeing first hand how journalists across Pakistan have not only adopted AI, but embraced it is inspiring our work with the news industry across the Asia Pacific region,” said Kate Beddoe, Managing Director, News Partnerships, APAC, Google.
Building Trusted Journalism in Pakistan
Digital Sahafat is a part of Google’s wider support for journalism. Google has partnered with the news industry for more than 20 years, investing over $550 million in 7,000+ news partners across 120 countries and training 2.5 million journalists and industry professionals worldwide. In Pakistan, Google and Tech Valley are applying that experience locally, giving journalists practical training in AI tools to verify information, work efficiently and strengthen public trust in the news.
