PM Shehbaz inaugurates Sky47 AI data center, calls it a step towards a ‘forward-looking Pakistan’

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the Sky47 AI cloud and data center in Islamabad on Friday, describing it as a major advancement in Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and saying the project provided “impregnable security” and would help create “a new, dynamic, forward-looking Pakistan.”

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the prime minister described the facility as “remarkable and truly inspiring”, saying it had been built in record time by “the best minds from across Pakistan” in both the military and civilian sectors.

“The state-of-the-art data center is incredible and commendable. I am extremely happy to witness this great project,” he said.

The prime minister praised the marshal’s leadership, saying the facility was built under his supervision in record time.

“If we follow this model…I am more than ever absolutely convinced that not only will we be able to compensate for the losses of the past, but inshaAllah we will create a very vibrant and future-oriented new Pakistan, which is the need of the hour,” the Prime Minister said.

Recalling the Marka-e-Haq success against India last year, he called it the greatest moment in the country’s history.

“It clearly shows that if there is a will, there is a way… you face challenges, difficulties, but if you have the will to negotiate, ardent hope and energy to turn this into a great opportunity, then Marka-e-Haq is on the horizon,” he added.

Calling it the future of Pakistan, the prime minister said it provides “impregnable security” and demonstrates that “anything is achievable provided we come together.”

Also speaking at the ceremony, IT and Telecommunications Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja called the data center a “step in the right direction”, saying it provided Pakistan with the foundation of an infrastructure “capable of producing the most important economic unit today: symbolic intelligence”.

“This is where Pakistan’s opportunity is extraordinary,” she said. “We are a young nation, we are a great nation and we are a nation with astounding human capabilities.”

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According to Sky47 Limited, the data center is designed to support artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and high-performance computing, while helping to protect sensitive national and commercial data.

The company, a majority subsidiary of Mari Energies Limited, announced the launch through a disclosure submitted to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX).

He said Karakoram-01 represented “a step toward establishing a secure, locally hosted digital infrastructure capable of supporting advanced computing requirements.”

Sky47 Limited said the data center was designed to provide sovereign cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence IT services, cybersecurity solutions, enterprise hosting and managed technology services.

He said the facility aims to support critical workloads in Pakistan’s government, banking, telecommunications, healthcare and technology sectors.

The launch of Karakoram-01 comes as demand for artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data localization continues to grow, with businesses and public institutions increasingly seeking national infrastructure to manage their sensitive digital operations.