KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has sought Chinese cooperation in smart governance, artificial intelligence (AI) and pharmaceutical manufacturing. He proposed partnerships with Huawei and Humanwell Healthcare Group to improve urban management, expand local medicine production and promote technological development in the province.
Shah made the proposals during a visit to China, where he led a high-level delegation from Sindh. The delegation visited Huawei’s Global Model Site for Digital-Driven Urban Governance in Wuhan, the Wuhan Artificial Intelligence Computing Centre and the headquarters of Humanwell Healthcare Group, also known as Renfu Pharmaceutical Group.
Huawei Partnership to Support Karachi’s Smart City Plans
Shah said Karachi, home to more than 20 million people, could benefit from data-driven systems to manage urban flooding, traffic congestion, water supplies and solid waste.
He proposed a pilot project focused on flood early warnings and city operations management. The project would initially cover one district before expanding to other parts of Karachi.
“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.
The chief minister stressed that Sindh wanted a long-term partnership built around technology transfer, training and local expertise, rather than simply purchasing equipment and software.
He also proposed study visits for provincial officials to the Wuhan City Operation Centre. In addition, he called for stronger collaboration between Huawei, universities and technical institutions in Sindh.
Sindh Explores Access to Advanced AI Computing
During a separate visit to the Wuhan Artificial Intelligence Computing Centre, the delegation received briefings on its computing facilities, research partnerships and support for businesses, universities and government institutions.
Officials said the centre began operations in 2021 and had expanded its computing capacity to 400 petaflops. This capacity allows universities, research institutions and technology companies to access advanced computing resources for research and commercial applications.
Shah praised the centre’s shared-infrastructure model. It enables researchers, universities and start-ups to use advanced computing resources without investing heavily in their own facilities.
He said Sindh could emerge as a regional hub for innovation and digital entrepreneurship, citing its young population, academic institutions and growing technology sector.
The chief minister also highlighted plans to develop Karachi Education City as a centre for higher education, research and emerging technologies.
He proposed cooperation to give Sindh’s universities and researchers access to AI training and computing resources. The proposal also included technical assistance and training programmes for engineers, researchers and government officials.
“Artificial intelligence will shape the future of economies and societies. Sindh wants to be an active participant in this transformation,” he said.
Sindh Invites Humanwell to Invest in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Separately, 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, the delegation received a briefing on Humanwell’s operations, research capabilities, global expansion strategy and contribution to the pharmaceutical industry.
The discussions covered potential cooperation in pharmaceutical manufacturing, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), healthcare innovation and investment in Sindh’s life sciences sector.
Shah praised Humanwell’s work in anaesthesia, pain management and critical care. He also highlighted the company’s reputation for producing medicines according to international standards.
The chief minister said Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry continued to expand but remained heavily dependent on imported raw materials and pharmaceutical ingredients.
He described Sindh as an attractive destination for pharmaceutical investment because of its strategic location, industrial infrastructure, skilled workforce and investment-friendly policies.
“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.
Special Economic Zones Offer Investment Opportunities
Shah highlighted the special economic zones at Dhabeji, Bin Qasim and Khairpur. These zones offer incentives such as tax exemptions and duty concessions. He also pointed to Port Qasim’s connections with international markets.
Referring to Humanwell’s manufacturing investments in Africa, the chief minister invited the company to consider a similar approach in Sindh. He proposed using the province as a production and export base for Pakistan and markets across the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia.
Shah urged Humanwell to send a technical delegation to Karachi to explore joint ventures involving APIs, finished medicines and other healthcare products.
He said the Sindh government would facilitate the investment process through its investment department. It would also help the company coordinate with relevant regulatory authorities, including the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan.
According to Shah, cooperation in pharmaceuticals and healthcare could strengthen the wider Pakistan-China economic partnership. It could also expand local manufacturing, improve access to medicines, create skilled jobs and promote technology transfer.
Huawei MoU Planned for Shanghai Conference
Shah said the Sindh government planned to pursue the proposals through a memorandum of understanding with Huawei.
The agreement was expected to be signed at the Sindh Investment and Trade Conference in Shanghai later that week, according to the chief minister.
