Pakistan launches Tier III data centre and science & technology park investment

Quantum Global Data Centre (QGDC), a venture of the Gul Ahmed Energy Group, has announced plans to develop Pakistan's largest Tier III data centre facility, as part of the recently launched Karachi Technopolis initiative. Announced at the Q Summit in Karachi, the project represents a significant investment in the country's digital infrastructure supporting digital transformation, AI adoption, and long-term economic competitiveness. 

The facility is expected to become operational in 2027 with an initial investment of approximately USD 230 million. The first phase will comprise an enterprise-grade Tier III facility designed to support cloud computing, artificial intelligence, enterprise applications, and future digital services. The longer-term vision is to expand the site into a hyperscale campus, positioning Pakistan to meet growing demand for domestic computing capacity and digital services.  

QGDC will serve as the anchor project of IASP member Karachi Technopolis, aiming to accelerate research, entrepreneurship, talent development, technology commercialisation, and investment while creating a foundation for a knowledge-based economy. 

The announcement follows a strategic partnership between QGDC and Huawei Pakistan to jointly develop the data centre facility and the wider innovation ecosystem.  

The initiative comes at a time when Pakistan is facing rapidly increasing demand for computing capacity. Speaking at The Q Summit,  QGDC Chairman and CEO Danish Iqbal highlighted the urgency of developing domestic infrastructure to support the demands of a rapidly evolving technology landscape, avoiding reliance on imported computing services. “Right now, with this minimal AI, we haven’t even started,” he said. “For our economies to grow, we need to go to very high AI compute. And that compute, without data centres, we will not be able to do”. 

Amer Hashmi, Co-Chairman of the Advisory Board of Karachi Technopolis and QGDC, said the initiative goes beyond infrastructure: “Karachi Technopolis and QGDC represent much more than infrastructure projects. Together, they form a national technology and innovation program designed to strengthen Pakistan's digital sovereignty, accelerate human capital development, and create opportunities for future generations”.  

The combined development of Karachi Technopolis and QGDC reflects a growing global trend across emerging markets, in which digital infrastructure and innovation ecosystems evolve together. By integrating advanced computing infrastructure with research, education and entrepreneurship support, the initiative seeks to create an environment where technological innovation can flourish and contribute to sustainable economic growth.