Alibaba Group praises Maryam Nawaz’s efforts after China visit

Following meetings in China, the Alibaba Group has praised Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for her efforts to foster economic and technological collaboration. The commendation was noted after discussions about a potential strategic partnership between the technology giant and the Punjab government.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has returned to Pakistan after concluding her visit to China. During the trip, it was confirmed that Chinese technology giant Alibaba Group has expressed formal interest in investing in Punjab's IT sector. Ms. Nawaz met with a high-level delegation from the company's Alibaba Cloud division to discuss a potential strategic partnership.

During her ongoing visit to China, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz met with a high-level delegation from a leading Chinese technology company, which expressed formal interest in investing in the province's IT sector.

According to available details, the discussions focused on a potential strategic partnership for using artificial intelligence in public services, with specific applications considered for agriculture, healthcare, socio-economic programs, and climate forecasting.

The Chief Minister stated that Punjab's governance system is being integrated with AI and that the government is committed to a policy of immediate adoption of new technologies. She noted that the idea to teach AI in public schools was inspired by observing students in Beijing. She added that not only government officials but also provincial cabinet members have received AI training.

The meeting also included talks on developing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for overseas Pakistanis.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced the launch of the province’s first dedicated data centre, the “Punjab Data Lake”, and invited Chinese technology companies to invest in the province. Speaking at the International Big Data Expo in Beijing, she said the government was also developing a state-level common data engine called OneMap.

According to the chief minister, OneMap integrates over 12 terabytes of geospatial data from 31 departments and more than 6,000 datasets. She stated the system can help in planning, resolving land-related disputes, and promoting more informed urban development.

Ms. Nawaz added that the Punjab government is linking OneMap with the Punjab Socio-Economic Registry to better understand citizens' needs and target resources more effectively. “Data will be transformed into economic and public value,” she said, adding that the province's youth were being equipped with modern technological skills.

During her visit to China, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has proposed establishing a joint working group between Punjab and China's Guizhou province focused on digital cooperation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart agriculture.

The proposal was made during a meeting with He Zhongyou, Party Secretary of Guiyang, on the sidelines of the International Big Data Expo in Guizhou. The Chief Minister also suggested holding a Business and Investment Conference to promote technology transfer and local manufacturing.

Further proposals included cooperation in AI-based medical diagnosis. Ms. Nawaz invited the Guizhou delegation to visit Lahore and expressed a desire to learn from China's success in poverty alleviation through industrialization and digitalization.

During a meeting with Chinese Party Secretary Zhong Yu, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz highlighted the youthful composition of her cabinet, stating that most of her ministers are under the age of 50.

Addressing the International Big Data Expo in Beijing, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif called for a “new era” in Pakistan-China relations, urging a shift from traditional friendship to deeper economic and technological cooperation.

She expressed admiration for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vision, particularly his emphasis on common prosperity, soft power, and respect for national sovereignty. Making a strong case for investment, Ms. Nawaz highlighted Punjab's population of approximately 130 million people, describing the province as Pakistan’s “food basket, economic cornerstone and economic pivot.”

The chief minister noted that Punjab’s population continues to grow as people from across Pakistan move there for better opportunities. She also drew a comparison with China’s Guizhou province, noting that while it has a smaller population, both regions share characteristics like abundant human resources and increasing urbanisation.

During her visit, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also met with Party Secretary He Zhongyou in Beijing to discuss mutual interests and enhancing cooperation. Addressing the International Big Data Expo, she invited Chinese investors to Punjab, stating her government's goal to transform the province into a hub for modern technology and a digital economy.

Ms. Nawaz highlighted that Punjab is implementing AI in sectors like education, health, and agriculture, and is providing its youth with modern technology education and skills. She also emphasized Punjab's role as a 'food basket' for other provinces and urged investment in its agricultural sector.

During her ongoing visit to China, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and senior executives of Huawei have agreed to deepen cooperation in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure.

The understanding was reached during high-level strategic discussions aimed at transforming Punjab into a technology-driven province. According to a statement, the shared ambition is to make Punjab the “most AI-enabled province in South Asia.”

The talks, which included Advisor to the Chief Minister on Artificial Intelligence Ali Dar, focused on developing a province-wide AI ecosystem to support economic growth, innovation, and more efficient public services. A key area of discussion was the development of secure and sovereign AI infrastructure in Pakistan, including enhanced computing capabilities and data-centre capacity. Huawei presented a proposed four-layer AI ecosystem designed around Punjab’s specific governance and economic needs.

During her ongoing visit to China, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz met with officials from the technology company Huawei, accompanied by a high-level delegation.

During her official visit to China, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz held key meetings with senior Chinese officials on Friday, August 28, to discuss expanding cooperation between Punjab and China. According to available details, the talks covered a wide range of sectors including agriculture, technology, investment, and development.

During an address on Friday, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also spoke on the strength of Pakistan-China friendship and cooperation, mentioning the Chinese President in her remarks.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz addressed a ceremony in China on Friday, August 28, 2026, during her ongoing official visit aimed at fostering economic ties.

During her visit to the Tyren Wisdom Dairy Company in Xinjiang, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz provided an update on the province's livestock initiatives, stating that livestock was also being fattened and prepared for meat production.

The Chief Minister reiterated Punjab's interest in establishing a milk and dairy processing project in collaboration with Chinese firms while touring the modern dairy facility on Thursday.