Ayesha Saba

Chinese tech giant Huawei has emerged as a key player in expanding and modernizing Pakistan's communication infrastructure to accelerate the country's digital transformation journey. Talking to WealthPK, Atta-ur-Rahman, Senior IT Service Engineer at Huawei Pakistan, highlighted the company's pivotal role in supporting Pakistan's digitalization efforts by providing innovative solutions to businesses and consumers, with a particular focus on cloud computing, artificial intelligence and 5G technology. The CPEC, a flagship project under China's Belt and Road Initiative, has been instrumental in fostering economic ties between China and Pakistan, with infrastructure development being a primary focus of its initial phase. However, as the global economy evolves, both nations are increasingly recognizing the importance of digitalization and technology-driven growth. Atta said that among the key areas of collaboration are the expansion of telecommunications networks, the deployment of high-speed internet infrastructure and the promotion of digital literacy initiatives. "Additionally, both countries are exploring joint ventures in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT)."

"Huawei has forged a strategic partnership with major telecom giants in Pakistan, such as Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), Zong, Jazz, and Telenor. Notably, Huawei and Jazz have jointly launched 5G-based communication technology commercially, marking a milestone for Pakistan," the IT engineer maintained. "Pakistani microfinance institution U Microfinance Bank Limited has partnered with the company to upscale and modernize its UPaisa e-wallet system." Atta emphasized the significant contribution of the company to the development of the Quaid-i-Azam Solar Park, a substantial solar project situated in Bahawalpur, Punjab. "Utilizing Huawei's state-of-the-art solar solutions like inverters, monitoring systems, and smart technologies, the park has greatly augmented Pakistan's solar energy capacity. The electricity produced thus has been instrumental in supplying power to numerous residences and commercial enterprises, thereby lessening reliance on the power produced from fossil fuels and promoting environmental sustainability."

The Planning Ministry, recognizing the significance of digitalization in fueling Pakistan's socioeconomic development, has expressed keen interest in collaborating with Huawei to materialize the Digital Corridor project. As per Planning Ministry sources, a delegation from Huawei Pakistan, headed by Chief Executive Officer Mr Ethan Sun and Mr Ahmed Bilal Masood, Director Subsidiary Board & Deputy CEO of the company, recently met with Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and discussed potential projects for inclusion in CPEC's Phase-II and collaboration opportunities for Pakistan's Digital Economy Strategy. Both parties explored avenues for digital economy transformation under CPEC, acknowledging Pakistan's growth potential in this sector. Ahmed Bilal Masood affirmed that Pakistan could become a big trading zone for the large user base of Middle Eastern countries. He said four key pillars had been identified for establishing a robust digital corridor: connectivity, data centers, firewall protection, and smart governance.

Credit: INP-WealthPk