Lahore, January 3, 2025: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif welcomed a $700 million Chinese investment during a high-level meeting with a Chinese delegation at Punjab House, Islamabad on Friday.
The delegation, led by Chengdu General Coordinator for ICT Hub Ms. Scarlett and Deputy CEO of Huawei Mr. Yu Ray, expressed their commitment to boosting Punjab’s IT sector. The Chinese side gave principal approval for the investment, which includes launching an e-taxi service and establishing a state-of-the-art ‘Computing Centre’ in Lahore’s Nawaz Sharif IT City.
The meeting resulted in an agreement to set up a Data and Cloud Centre in the IT City, with the Punjab government providing land and infrastructure for the project. Additionally, the delegation announced plans to introduce Pakistan’s first e-commerce platform, aiming to enhance online trading and offer training for Pakistani youth in global digital commerce.
Key smart city initiatives, such as a smart control room, smart traffic management system, smart transport solutions, and a smart sanitation centre, will be implemented in Lahore with Chinese cooperation.
CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif, along with Provincial Transport Minister Bilal Akbar, was briefed on the latest digital centre technology during their recent visit to China. The Chinese government also pledged assistance in platform service capacity building and fostering local investment in industrial development.
In Phase Two of the project, an AI Industry Centre will be established to introduce the youth to cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies. Phase Three will focus on facilitating local industries and equipping young Pakistanis with modern technological skills through collaboration with Chinese firms.
Speaking on the occasion, CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif stated, “We aim to transform Punjab into the region’s largest artificial intelligence hub with China’s support. Our goal is to see Punjab become an IT powerhouse and for our youth to lead in the global technology arena.”
The initiative is expected to create numerous opportunities in IT, e-commerce, and smart city infrastructure, placing Punjab on the path to becoming a regional leader in digital innovation.
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