GUIZHOU, China (MNN); Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif held high-level strategic talks with senior executives of Huawei during her visit to China on Friday, discussing a comprehensive roadmap for the development of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital infrastructure, skilled human resources and smart public services across Punjab.
The chief minister was accompanied by Advisor on Artificial Intelligence Ali Dar, provincial ministers and senior officials of the Punjab government, according to a news release issued by Huawei.
Both sides shared the vision of transforming Punjab into “the most AI-enabled province in South Asia” and discussed expanding cooperation beyond individual technology projects towards the development of a province-wide artificial intelligence and digital transformation ecosystem.
The proposed collaboration aims to support economic growth, innovation, employment opportunities and improved delivery of public services through the wider use of emerging technologies.
The discussions focused on the development of secure and sovereign AI infrastructure within Pakistan, strengthening computing capacity and data centres, and gradually introducing artificial intelligence across government departments, public services and key industries.
Huawei presented a proposed four-layer AI ecosystem comprising digital infrastructure, AI capacity building, open and commercial AI models, and practical applications designed to meet Punjab’s governance and economic requirements.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz welcomed Huawei’s continued engagement with Punjab and appreciated the company’s willingness to support the province in building a modern, technology-driven and AI-enabled governance system.
She said the Punjab government was committed to using emerging technologies to improve efficiency, transparency, decision-making and the quality and accessibility of public services.
The proposed partnership would also focus on developing localized AI capabilities by combining cloud infrastructure, computing resources, relevant data and specialized AI models. The objective is to ensure that AI-based solutions address Punjab’s local needs and can gradually be expanded across government institutions and major economic sectors.
Talent development and wider access to technology were also identified as key pillars of Punjab’s AI strategy. Both sides discussed initiatives to strengthen AI-related skills among government officials, industry professionals, academic institutions and local communities through training and talent development programmes.
To translate the shared vision into practical outcomes, the proposed roadmap includes strengthening AI and cloud infrastructure, launching high-impact pilot projects and developing successful models for wider implementation across the province.
The two sides also discussed the need for an effective government-enterprise coordination mechanism to improve communication, clarify responsibilities, speed up decision-making and ensure the efficient implementation of joint initiatives.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said strategic partnerships with leading global technology companies could play an important role in building a digitally empowered, innovative, citizen-focused and AI-enabled Punjab.
The Huawei delegation included Antonony Gu, Global President of Huawei Cloud Stack, Todd Liu, Chairman of Huawei Pakistan, and Ahmed Bilal Masud, CEO of Huawei Pakistan Cloud and AI Business.
The discussions marked a significant step towards deeper China-Pakistan digital cooperation and laid the groundwork for future collaboration in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, smart governance, digital skills and emerging technologies.
Through investment in digital infrastructure, human capital, innovation and practical AI applications, Punjab aims to steadily advance towards its vision of becoming the most AI-enabled province in South Asia.
