The Sindh government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chinese technology company Huawei to develop Pakistan’s first AI-native digital province, marking a proposed expansion of cooperation in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and technology-driven public services.
The agreement was finalised during Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah’s visit to Huawei’s Lianqiu Lake Research and Development Centre in Shanghai. The MoU was signed by Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Syed Qasim Naveed in the presence of the chief minister and Huawei Pakistan’s chairman.
The framework provides for collaboration in e-governance, provincial cloud and data centre infrastructure, smart city systems, AI-native smart parks and information and communication technology (ICT) skills development for young people.
Addressing the ceremony, Syed Murad Ali Shah said the partnership represented a shift from purchasing technology towards developing solutions through joint projects, local capacity-building and skills training. He also highlighted Huawei’s investment in research and development as an important factor in its technological capabilities.
The chief minister referred to a previous visit by a provincial delegation to Huawei’s Global Model Site in Wuhan, where advanced systems enable urban authorities to monitor city operations, identify problems in real time and respond to emerging risks.
He said Karachi, with a population exceeding 20 million, could benefit from similar technology-enabled urban management and data-driven decision-making. The provincial government aims to extend these capabilities to other cities across Sindh.
Huawei’s existing technology training initiatives in Pakistan were also highlighted during the meeting, including a programme with the Special Investment Facilitation Council aimed at training 300,000 young Pakistanis.
To ensure implementation, the chief minister proposed establishing a joint working group with designated representatives from both sides and a mutually agreed first-year work plan.
