SHANGHAI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah met Shanghai Mayor Zhu Zhongming to discuss strengthening economic and investment ties between Sindh and Shanghai, with a focus on technology, infrastructure, urban development and direct cooperation between businesses.
The meeting was attended by Sindh ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon, Jam Khan Shoro and Muhammad Bux Mahar, along with Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab.
During the meeting, Murad Ali Shah proposed establishing a formal sister-city partnership between Karachi and Shanghai, saying both were major commercial centres that could benefit from closer cooperation.
He said the proposed partnership would strengthen ties between the two cities and promote collaboration in urban planning, public transport, technology and infrastructure. The Shanghai mayor welcomed the proposal.
The chief minister said Karachi was pursuing major initiatives, including the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and technology and information technology projects. He expressed the desire to benefit from Shanghai’s experience in smart-city planning, public transportation and digital services.
Underlining the importance of technology in improving urban governance, Murad said digital solutions could make cities more efficient and responsive to citizens’ needs.
Separately, the chief minister visited Huawei’s research and development centre in Shanghai, where he received a briefing on the company’s latest innovations in information technology.
Murad said the Sindh government wanted to establish a deeper technological partnership with Huawei, stressing that cooperation should extend beyond the procurement of technology to include joint projects, research, capacity building and technology transfer.
He invited Huawei to establish research and development facilities and technology laboratories in Sindh, particularly at Karachi Education City.
The chief minister said there was considerable potential for cooperation between the provincial government and Huawei in advanced technology. He added that Sindh was already working on digital governance initiatives, including a provincial e-portal and a broader agenda for cloud infrastructure and digital transformation.
Murad proposed Huawei’s cooperation in developing the provincial government’s cloud infrastructure and strengthening data centres, disaster recovery systems and cybersecurity. He also offered collaboration in developing computing infrastructure for artificial intelligence.
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Highlighting the province’s growing pool of young IT professionals, the chief minister said Sindh could become a major hub of skilled talent for technology companies.
He said Huawei’s technology could also support smart-city initiatives, digital public services, urban management and improved coordination. Data-driven decision-making, he added, was an important component of smart-city development.
Murad stressed that Sindh wanted to develop local technological capabilities rather than rely solely on imported technology. He said stronger technology partnerships should create new opportunities for young people in the province.
He also proposed that Huawei work with the Sindh government, universities and other institutions on pilot projects, research, innovation and skills development.
The chief minister said Sindh wanted to strengthen institutional partnerships with Chinese companies and cities. He noted that Shanghai’s cooperation with Huawei could accelerate Karachi’s digital transformation and help make Sindh a more attractive destination for investment.
Murad also highlighted the importance of the Lianqiu Lake Centre as a major global hub for terminal chips and wireless technologies, saying cooperation with Chinese technology companies could contribute to the growth of Sindh’s technology-driven economy.