Google, Momina & Duraid Foundation bring digital learning to Karachi govt school

KARACHI: Momina & Duraid Foundation and Google Pakistan have launched a digital learning lab at a government school in Karachi, giving students access to digital tools and technology.

The Google Lab was inaugurated at Ibn-e-Insha Primary School in Gulberg Town as part of an initiative to expand access to modern education for children studying in government schools.

Momina & Duraid Foundation Trustee Duraid Qureshi, Google Country Lead Partner Tim Powlin and Tech Valley Pakistan Chief Executive Umar Farooq inaugurated the lab and later interacted with students after the inauguration.

Farooq said that the initiative would provide government-school students with access to technology tools commonly used in private schools and universities, including Google Classroom and Chromebooks.

“Google is giving these children an equal playing field,” Farooq said. “The global tools that are available in the private sector and universities are the same tools now being used in your school in the form of Google Classroom and Google Chromebooks.”

Google device-maker Allied Australia CEO Arun Jackson said that Pakistani students would soon have access to locally manufactured Chromebooks.

He said the initiative would also facilitate technology transfer and give students exposure to the technology industry.

“It’s fantastic to see how Google, Gemini and these devices are being used, and to manufacture these devices locally and facilitate technology transfer so that, in the years ahead, these very children can work in the technology industry and manufacture these same devices within the ecosystem,” Jackson said.

“Being on the ground and seeing the real impact our devices are having in classrooms is truly fantastic,” he added.

Duraid Qureshi reiterated the foundation’s commitment to providing children in government schools with modern education and digital skills.

“All the schools that Momina & Duraid Foundation has opened will have these labs,” he said.

“We want children to come during school hours as well as after school hours and develop computer literacy.”

“With the advent of AI, these children will not be left behind by children anywhere in the world — whether in their education, their growth or their personal development,” he added.

The Google team also visited other schools upgraded by the Momina & Duraid Foundation and reviewed the facilities provided to students.