ISLAMABAD/BEIJING – Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif embarked on a five-day official visit to China with the goal of enhancing economic cooperation in export-oriented, innovation-driven advanced technologies, high-tech development, and Information and Communication Technologies.
He praised Huawei’s latest tech advancements and invited company to expand its investment portfolio in Pakistan. Discussions focused on how Huawei and Pakistan could collaborate to create a better digital future.
Upon his arrival, Huawei Chairman Liang Hua welcomed Prime Minister Sharif and his delegation. The Prime Minister toured Huawei’s Exhibition Centre, where he commended the company’s innovative operations and received briefings on various fields including e-governance, digital banking, telecommunications, and artificial intelligence. He also appreciated the safe-city projects in Pakistan that were 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 ease of doing business. He encouraged Huawei to prioritize safe-city projects in various Pakistani cities, especially those under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The Prime Minister highlighted Pakistan’s initiatives to digitize government offices and emphasized the investment opportunities in sectors like the tax system, e-governance, and artificial intelligence.
Prime Minister Sharif also invited Huawei to invest in modern agricultural technology in Pakistan and extended an invitation to the Huawei Chairman to visit the country. Following this, a framework agreement was signed between Pakistan’s Ministry of Information Technology and Huawei, under which Huawei will provide free IT training, including artificial intelligence, to 200,000 Pakistani youth. Additionally, Huawei will support the establishment of safe-cities, e-governance, and the digitization of the economy in Pakistan. The Huawei Chairman hosted a luncheon in honor of the Prime Minister and his delegation.