LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has expressed her enthusiasm for the $700 million Chinese investment, which will foster technological advancements and infrastructure development in Punjab. The announcement followed a high-level meeting with a Chinese delegation led by Chengdu General Coordinator for ICT Hub, Scarlett, and Deputy CEO of Huawei, Yu Ray, on Friday.
During the meeting, the Chinese delegation agreed to invest $700 million in several groundbreaking projects in Punjab, with the approval of the Chief Minister. A major initiative includes the launch of an e-taxi service in collaboration with Chengdu, marking a significant step towards modernizing the province’s transportation sector. Furthermore, a Chinese company will establish a ‘Computing Centre’ in Lahore’s Nawaz Sharif IT City, contributing to the province’s digital infrastructure.
The meeting also focused on establishing a state-of-the-art data and cloud center in the same IT hub, with the Punjab government providing land and building for the project. In addition to these developments, plans are in place for the establishment of Pakistan’s first e-commerce platform, which will open new avenues for online trading and global market access. As part of the initiative, Chinese companies will provide online training to Pakistani youth, ensuring skill development for the digital economy.
The partnership also outlines the creation of several “smart” facilities, including a control room, smart traffic management, smart transportation systems, and smart sanitation centers in Lahore.
In a major step towards promoting innovation, the two sides discussed the establishment of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Industry Centre in the second phase of the project. The center will introduce Pakistani youth to the cutting-edge field of artificial intelligence. Moreover, the Chinese government plans to support platform service capacity building in Punjab, paving the way for local investment and industrial growth.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz emphasized her vision for Punjab to become a leading IT hub in the region, stating, “We aim to make Punjab the largest center for artificial intelligence in the region. Our youth will excel in the IT sector, setting a new benchmark for technological innovation.”
