Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah met Shanghai Mayor Zhu Zhongming to discuss broader economic and investment links between the province and the Chinese city. The talks covered technology, infrastructure, urban development and direct cooperation between businesses. Sindh ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon, Jam Khan Shoro and Muhammad Bux Mahar attended, along with Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab.
During the meeting, Murad proposed a formal sister-city partnership between Karachi and Shanghai. He argued that both cities are major commercial centres that could gain from working more closely. The Shanghai mayor welcomed the proposal.
Karachi seeks Shanghai’s expertise in smart-city planning
The chief minister said Karachi was pursuing large initiatives, including the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and technology and information technology projects. He said he wanted to draw on Shanghai’s experience in smart-city planning, public transport and digital services. Murad added that digital tools could make cities more efficient and better aligned with residents’ needs.
Huawei invited to open labs and R&D facilities in Sindh
Separately, the chief minister toured Huawei’s research and development centre in Shanghai. He received a briefing on the company’s latest information technology innovations. Murad said the Sindh government wanted a deeper technological partnership that goes beyond buying technology, covering joint projects, research, capacity building and technology transfer.
He invited Huawei to set up research and development facilities and technology laboratories in Sindh, particularly at Karachi Education City. The chief minister said there was considerable scope for cooperation in advanced technology. He noted that Sindh was already working on digital governance, including a provincial e-portal and wider plans for cloud infrastructure and digital transformation.
Murad proposed that Huawei help develop the provincial government’s cloud infrastructure and strengthen its data centres, disaster recovery systems and cybersecurity. He also offered collaboration on computing infrastructure for artificial intelligence.
Sindh pitches young IT talent and local capability
The chief minister highlighted the province’s growing pool of young IT professionals. He said Sindh could become a major hub of skilled talent for technology companies. He also said Huawei’s technology could support smart-city initiatives, digital public services and urban management, with data-driven decision-making playing a central role.
Murad stressed that Sindh wanted to build local technological capabilities rather than rely solely on imported technology. He said stronger partnerships should create new opportunities for young people. He proposed pilot projects, research, innovation and skills development involving Huawei, the provincial government, universities and other institutions.
The chief minister said Sindh wanted to strengthen institutional ties with Chinese companies and cities. He suggested Shanghai’s cooperation with Huawei could speed up Karachi’s digital transformation and make Sindh more attractive to investors. Murad also highlighted the Lianqiu Lake Centre as a major global hub for terminal chips and wireless technologies, saying cooperation with Chinese technology firms could support the growth of Sindh’s technology-driven economy.
