GUIZHOU,  29 August, 2026 (Ghufran): Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif held high-level strategic discussions with senior Huawei executives during her visit to China to explore a comprehensive roadmap for advancing artificial intelligence, cloud technologies, digital infrastructure, talent development and smart public services across Punjab. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Ali Dar, Advisor to the Chief Minister on Artificial Intelligence, along with provincial ministers and senior officials of the Punjab government. The discussions focused on a shared vision of making Punjab the “most AI-enabled province in South Asia” by developing a province-wide artificial intelligence and digital transformation ecosystem aimed at supporting economic growth, innovation, employment and improved public service delivery. Both sides discussed strengthening secure and sovereign AI infrastructure in Pakistan, expanding computing and data-centre capabilities, and gradually integrating AI technologies into government, public services and key economic sectors. Huawei presented a proposed four-layer AI ecosystem comprising infrastructure, AI capacity building, open and commercial AI models, and practical applications tailored to Punjab’s governance and economic requirements. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif welcomed Huawei’s continued engagement with Punjab and appreciated the company’s willingness to support the province in developing a modern, technology-driven and AI-enabled governance ecosystem. She emphasized that 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 collaboration would also promote localized AI capabilities by combining cloud infrastructure, computing resources, relevant data and specialized AI models. The objective is to develop AI solutions suited to Punjab’s local needs and gradually expand them across government departments and major economic sectors. Talent development and inclusive access to technology were identified as key pillars of Punjab’s AI strategy. The two sides agreed to explore initiatives to strengthen AI skills among government officials, industry professionals, academia and local communities through training and talent-development programmes. The proposed roadmap includes strengthening AI and cloud infrastructure, launching high-impact pilot projects and developing successful AI use cases for wider deployment. The discussions also highlighted the need for an effective government-enterprise coordination mechanism to improve communication, clarify responsibilities, accelerate decision-making and ensure efficient implementation. From Huawei, the meeting was attended by Mr. Antonony Gu, Global President of Huawei Cloud Stack; Mr. Todd Liu, Chairman of Huawei Pakistan; and Mr. Ahmed Bilal Masud, CEO of Huawei Pakistan Cloud and AI Business. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif appreciated Huawei’s commitment to supporting Punjab’s digital transformation and welcomed deeper cooperation in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, smart governance, digital skills and emerging technologies. She said strategic partnerships with leading global technology companies could play an important role in transforming Punjab into a digitally empowered, AI-enabled, innovative and citizen-focused province. The discussions laid the foundation for deeper China-Pakistan digital cooperation, with Punjab seeking to advance steadily toward its vision of becoming the “Most AI-Enabled Province in South Asia.”