Punjab, Huawei deepen AI and digital cooperation

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has invited Chinese technology giant Huawei to invest in the Nawaz Sharif IT City as the provincial government seeks to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing and digital infrastructure initiatives.

During her visit to China, the chief minister held talks with senior Huawei officials on expanding cooperation in AI, smart public services and digital transformation.

Under the proposed collaboration, 1,000 young people from Punjab will be trained as Huawei master trainers, while 300 women will receive specialised AI training.

The meeting also covered plans to establish an Artificial Intelligence Delivery Unit in Punjab and develop a sovereign data centre along with six additional data centres at the Nawaz Sharif Information Technology City.

Both sides agreed to appoint a focal person to improve coordination between Huawei and the Pakistani government and reviewed a broader roadmap involving AI, cloud technologies, digital infrastructure, workforce development and smart public services.

Cooperation was also discussed in areas including smart cities, command centres, healthcare, education, agriculture and manufacturing.

Maryam Nawaz said making Punjab a leading technology-driven province was among the government’s key priorities. She highlighted partnerships with international technology companies as an important part of efforts to create a digitally empowered and citizen-focused province.

She said investment in talent development and wider access to technology would remain central to Punjab’s digital strategy, with the government planning to expand cloud infrastructure, digital services and AI capabilities.

A senior Huawei executive assured the chief minister that the company would continue supporting Punjab’s digital transformation and sustainable development initiatives.

Speaking at the Big Data Industry Expo 2026, Maryam Nawaz separately announced the launch of Punjab’s first dedicated Data Lake, aimed at bringing government data together through a unified digital framework.

She said OneMap, a state-level common data engine, would serve as a key component of the system. More than 12 terabytes of geospatial information from 31 provincial departments and over 6,000 datasets are expected to be integrated through the platform.

According to the chief minister, the system could improve government planning, assist in resolving land-related disputes and support better-informed urban development.

She further said OneMap was being linked with the Punjab Socio-Economic Registry, creating opportunities for more coordinated use of public data in planning and service delivery.