SHENZHEN, June 5, 2024 – Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday visited the Huawei headquarters in Shenzhen and extended an invitation to the tech giant to invest in Pakistan’s taxation and e-governance sectors, alongside enhancing its involvement in the country’s Safe City projects.
Upon his arrival at Huawei’s headquarters, Prime Minister Sharif was warmly welcomed by Huawei Chairman Liang Hua. The visit commenced with the playing of national anthems, followed by a tour of the Exhibition Center where the chairman provided an overview of Huawei’s global operations, with a particular focus on Pakistan. Chairman Liang expressed keen interest in expanding Huawei’s investment across various sectors in Pakistan, including e-governance, digital banking, telecommunication, and artificial intelligence.
During the visit, Prime Minister Sharif, currently on a five-day tour of China, commended Huawei’s innovative operations and urged the company to increase its investment in Pakistan. He held a bilateral meeting with Chairman Liang Hua and his delegation, during which he lauded Huawei’s contribution to Pakistan’s Safe City projects and encouraged the company to invest further, particularly in cities where China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects are underway.
Prime Minister Sharif informed the Huawei leadership about the Pakistani government’s efforts to promote investment and ease of doing business. He emphasized the government’s commitment to digitizing government offices, highlighting the substantial investment potential in Pakistan’s taxation system, e-governance, and artificial intelligence sectors. Additionally, he invited Huawei to introduce modern technology in Pakistan’s agriculture sector and extended an invitation to Chairman Liang to visit Pakistan.
Later, the prime minister attended a signing ceremony for a framework agreement between Huawei and Pakistan’s Ministry of Science and Technology. Under this agreement, Huawei will provide free training to around 200,000 Pakistani youths in information technology, including artificial intelligence. The company will also support Pakistan in establishing Safe Cities and advancing e-governance and economic digitization.
Following his visit, Prime Minister Sharif shared his impressions on X, stating, “I was impressed by the latest innovative technologies that are changing the world and the way we live. In the meeting, we discussed how Huawei and Pakistan could collaborate to build a better and digital future together.” He reiterated his commitment to fostering an innovative, inclusive, and sustainable digital transformation for Pakistan.
Chairman Liang Hua hosted a luncheon reception for Prime Minister Sharif and his delegation, marking a significant step towards strengthening the collaboration between Pakistan and Huawei, aiming for a technologically advanced and digitally inclusive future for Pakistan.
