On September 29, 2023, a delegation from Pakistan, led by Faisal Saleem, a Pakistani PTI senator, and Muhammad Imran Masood, a member of the Pakistani Board of Investment (BOI), visited Beijing to explore potential collaboration with Anlu International Technology Company (Beijing Anlu) in the development of smart cities in Pakistan. The meeting between the two sides featured extensive discussions on the prospects and strategies for smart city construction in Pakistan.
Beijing Anlu, a pioneer in the global expansion of smart city technologies, has played a significant role in supporting over 30 countries and regions in their pursuit of smart city initiatives, aligning with the Belt and Road initiative. Liu Quanjun, Chairman of Beijing Anlu, expressed the company’s strong commitment to advancing smart city development in Pakistan. He highlighted Beijing Anlu’s prior involvement in major Pakistani projects such as the Peshawar BRT Project and Lahore Safe City Project, which provided valuable insights into Pakistan’s specific needs and challenges in the realm of smart cities.
“I believe that China and Pakistan have great potential for collaboration in the construction of smart cities and intelligent transportation systems,” Liu Quanjun remarked, underlining the company’s eagerness to deepen its engagement in these endeavors.
Faisal Saleem, representing the Pakistani delegation, extended appreciation to Beijing Anlu for its contributions to Pakistan’s ongoing informatization efforts. He also extended a warm invitation to more Chinese companies to participate in the development of safe cities, intelligent transportation networks, and smart campuses across Pakistan. Saleem expressed interest in forging connections between Beijing Anlu and Pakistani universities to promote industry-university-research cooperation—a crucial step in advancing the smart city agenda in Pakistan.
During their discussions, both sides addressed existing challenges and proposed countermeasures in Pakistan’s modern governance and the construction of smart cities. This exchange of insights and ideas is expected to pave the way for a more robust and fruitful collaboration between Beijing Anlu and Pakistan in the dynamic field of smart city development.
As the dialogue continues and partnerships solidify, it is evident that Pakistan is keen on harnessing the expertise and experience of Chinese technology companies like Beijing Anlu to propel its vision for smarter, more efficient cities forward. This collaborative endeavor holds the promise of improving the quality of life for the people of Pakistan while fostering stronger ties between China and its South Asian neighbor.
