Punjab has partnered with Chinese technology giant Huawei to expand artificial intelligence training and digital infrastructure across the province.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and senior Huawei officials in China, where both sides discussed cooperation in AI, digital infrastructure and smart public services.
Under the agreement, Huawei will train 1,000 young people from Punjab as AI master trainers. The company will also provide specialised AI training to 300 women.
Maryam Nawaz welcomed Huawei’s cooperation and invited the company to invest in the Nawaz Sharif IT City.
Punjab plans six data centres
The meeting also discussed establishing an Artificial Intelligence Delivery Unit in Punjab and setting up six data centres at the Nawaz Sharif IT City.
One of the proposed facilities will be a sovereign data centre. The two sides also agreed to designate a focal person to improve coordination between Huawei and the Pakistani government.
The planned cooperation extends beyond AI and data centres to smart cities, command centres, healthcare, education, agriculture and manufacturing.
The broader technology roadmap includes cloud computing, digital infrastructure, AI development, talent training and smart public services.
Maryam Nawaz said AI development was a major priority for Punjab and stressed the importance of partnerships with global technology companies.
She said the province planned to develop its own cloud computing capacity, strengthen digital infrastructure and develop locally relevant AI models.
Punjab targets AI integration by 2029
Special Assistant Ali Dar briefed the meeting on the Punjab AI Office and said AI was being introduced across healthcare, education, infrastructure and government services.
He said Punjab was the first province in Pakistan to establish a dedicated AI office, adding that AI applications were already being used in areas including Safe Cities, agriculture and traffic management.
According to Dar, Punjab has also used AI technology in heart transplantation.
He highlighted the province’s young population, saying around 65% of Punjab’s population consists of youth and that this provides significant potential for technology-driven employment.
Punjab aims to establish a fully AI-integrated and interconnected system by 2029.
The provincial government is also introducing AI as a compulsory subject in government educational institutions. A pilot project designed to help students access market opportunities through AI has already been completed.
AI training is also being extended to civil servants and members of the provincial cabinet.
Dar said Pakistan has the world’s fourth-largest freelancer population and that Punjab intends to leverage Chinese technical expertise to accelerate AI development.
A four-tier data centre is also planned at the Nawaz Sharif IT City.
A senior Huawei executive assured the provincial government that the company would continue supporting Punjab’s digital transformation and sustainable development.
