Sindh CM Proposes Sister-City Partnership Between Karachi and Shanghai

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has proposed establishing a formal sister-city partnership between Karachi and Shanghai to strengthen economic and investment ties and promote cooperation in urban planning, transportation, technology and infrastructure.

The proposal was made during a meeting between Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Shanghai Mayor Zhu Zhongming, where both sides agreed to enhance economic cooperation, investment opportunities and institutional linkages.

The meeting was attended by Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro, Agriculture Minister Muhammad Bakhsh Mahar, Special Assistant Qasim Naveed and Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab.

The discussions focused on promoting direct connections between business entities and expanding institutional cooperation between the two major port cities.

Murad Ali Shah highlighted ongoing projects in Karachi, including the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and technology infrastructure initiatives. He urged Shanghai to share its expertise in smart-city planning and expressed the Sindh government’s interest in benefiting from Shanghai’s experience in digital services and public transportation. The Shanghai mayor welcomed the proposed cooperation.

Sindh CM Visits Huawei’s Research and Development Centre

During his visit to Shanghai, the chief minister also toured Huawei’s Lianqiu Lake research and development centre, described during the briefing as the company’s largest R&D facility in the world. Spread over 1,600 acres, the centre has attracted investment exceeding 10 billion yuan.

Officials briefed the chief minister on ongoing research in semiconductor chips, 5G and 6G technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing.

Murad Ali Shah expressed the Sindh government’s desire to establish a long-term technology partnership with Huawei, emphasising that cooperation should extend beyond equipment procurement to include joint ventures and technology transfer.

He also invited Huawei to establish a research and development laboratory and research facilities at Karachi Education City to strengthen local technological capabilities.

Focus on Digital Transformation and Local Talent

The chief minister said the Sindh government was working on a provincial e-portal and broader digital transformation initiatives, requiring support in cloud infrastructure, data centres and cybersecurity.

He highlighted the province’s large pool of young IT professionals and said Sindh aimed to develop local expertise rather than rely solely on imported technology.

Murad Ali Shah invited Huawei to collaborate with universities and technology institutions across Sindh on pilot projects designed to create new opportunities for young professionals and improve digital public services through smart-city initiatives.

According to the chief minister’s spokesperson, these engagements aim to strengthen Sindh’s partnership with China and position the province as an emerging technology hub through investment, knowledge-sharing and technology transfer.