Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has sought Chinese cooperation in smart governance, artificial intelligence and pharmaceutical manufacturing, proposing partnerships with Huawei and Humanwell Healthcare Group to strengthen urban management, healthcare production and technological development in the province.
The chief minister made the proposals during visits to Huawei’s Global Model Site for Digital-Driven Urban Governance, the Wuhan Artificial Intelligence Computing Centre and the headquarters of Humanwell Healthcare Group, also known as Renfu Pharmaceutical Group, in Wuhan.
Leading a high-level delegation during his official visit to China, Mr Shah said Sindh wanted to benefit from China’s experience in using data, artificial intelligence and digital platforms to improve public services, manage growing cities and expand industrial capacity.
At the Wuhan City Operation Centre, developed in collaboration with Huawei, the chief minister was briefed on an integrated governance system that uses real-time data analytics, artificial intelligence and smart monitoring tools for traffic management, emergency response, public services and urban planning.
Describing Wuhan as a global model for data-driven governance, Mr Shah said technology could help governments identify problems before they developed into crises and deliver solutions in real time. He said Karachi, with a population of more than 20 million, could benefit from similar systems to address traffic congestion, water management, solid waste disposal and urban flooding.
The chief minister proposed a pilot project in Karachi focusing on flood early warning and city operations management, initially covering one district before being expanded to other parts of the metropolis.
“We would like to explore a practical partnership with Huawei to develop a smart city operations platform for Karachi, particularly to strengthen flood forecasting, emergency response and urban management,” he said.
Mr Shah stressed that Sindh was interested in a long-term partnership rather than a conventional technology procurement arrangement. He proposed cooperation in the establishment of data centres, knowledge transfer, training programmes and sustainable implementation models to build the capacity of local institutions and professionals.
He also suggested study visits for Sindh government officials to the Wuhan City Operation Centre and greater collaboration between Huawei, universities and technical institutions in Sindh.
At the Wuhan Artificial Intelligence Computing Centre, the delegation was briefed on the facility’s operations, research collaborations and role in supporting industry, academia and government.
Officials said the centre, launched in 2021, had expanded its computing capacity to 400 petaflops, enabling universities, research institutions and technology companies to access advanced computing resources for research and commercial applications.
The chief minister praised the centre’s shared-infrastructure model, saying it allowed universities, researchers and startups to access advanced computing facilities without making substantial investments of their own.
Shah said Sindh, with its young population, expanding technology ecosystem and leading academic institutions, was well placed to become a regional centre for innovation and digital entrepreneurship.
Shah also highlighted the provincial government’s plans to develop Karachi Education City as a hub for higher education, research, innovation and emerging technologies.
Pharmaceutical investment: Separately, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah invited Humanwell Healthcare Group to establish pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities in Sindh to serve Pakistan and regional markets.
During his visit to the company’s headquarters in Wuhan’s East Lake High-Tech Development Zone, Mr Shah was briefed on its operations, research capabilities, global expansion strategy and contribution to the pharmaceutical sector. Discussions focused on potential cooperation in pharmaceutical manufacturing, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), healthcare innovation and investment in Sindh’s life sciences sector.
The chief minister praised Humanwell as one of China’s leading pharmaceutical groups, particularly in anaesthesia, pain management and critical care, and acknowledged its reputation for producing medicines according to international standards.
He said Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry was expanding rapidly but remained heavily dependent on imported raw materials and pharmaceutical ingredients.
“Sindh is home to a large pool of pharmacists, chemists, engineers and healthcare professionals. Combined with our Special Economic Zones, modern ports and investment incentives, the province provides a highly competitive destination for pharmaceutical manufacturing,” he said.
Shah informed the company’s leadership that the Special Economic Zones at Dhabeji, Bin Qasim and Khairpur offered fiscal incentives, including tax exemptions and duty concessions. He also highlighted Port Qasim’s connectivity for imports and exports.
Referring to Humanwell’s manufacturing investments in Africa, he invited the company to adopt a similar model in Sindh and develop the province as a manufacturing and export base.
“We see Sindh as an ideal manufacturing base not only for Pakistan but also for the wider region, including the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia,” he said.
The chief minister invited Humanwell to send a technical delegation to Karachi to examine opportunities for joint ventures in APIs, finished pharmaceutical products and other healthcare-related investments.