PM Shehbaz seeks Chinese tech giant’s partnership for Pakistan’s sustainable Digital Future

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan embarked on a significant five-day official visit to China, aiming to bolster economic cooperation in export-oriented, innovation-driven advanced technologies, high-tech development, and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).

During his historic visit, Prime Minister Sharif reaffirmed his commitment to driving an innovative, inclusive, and sustainable digital transformation in Pakistan. One of the highlights of his trip was a visit to the headquarters of Huawei Technologies Corporation in Shenzhen, where he praised Huawei's latest technological advancements and invited the company to expand its investment portfolio in Pakistan. Discussions centered on potential collaboration between Huawei and Pakistan to forge a better digital future for the country.

Upon his arrival, Prime Minister Sharif was warmly welcomed by Huawei Chairman Liang Hua and his delegation. During his tour of Huawei's Exhibition Centre, he commended the company's innovative operations and received briefings on various fields, including e-governance, digital banking, telecommunications, and artificial intelligence. Prime Minister Sharif also expressed appreciation for the safe-city projects in Pakistan that were successfully completed with Huawei's assistance.

In a bilateral meeting with the Huawei Chairman, Prime Minister Sharif outlined the Pakistani government's efforts to promote investment and facilitate ease of doing business. He encouraged Huawei to prioritize safe-city projects in various Pakistani cities, especially those under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Additionally, he highlighted Pakistan's initiatives to digitize government offices and underscored investment opportunities in sectors such as the tax system, e-governance, and artificial intelligence.

Prime Minister Sharif extended an invitation to Huawei to invest in modern agricultural technology in Pakistan and invited the Huawei Chairman to visit the country. Subsequently, a framework agreement was signed between Pakistan's Ministry of Information Technology and Huawei, under which Huawei pledged to provide free IT training, including artificial intelligence, to 200,000 Pakistani youth. Moreover, Huawei committed to supporting the establishment of safe cities, e-governance, and the digitization of the economy in Pakistan. The Huawei Chairman also hosted a luncheon in honor of the Prime Minister and his delegation, further cementing the bonds of cooperation between the two countries.