The initiative has attracted more than 16,000 applications from across Pakistan, with over 430 teams shortlisted through competitive regional rounds in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. The selected finalist teams, comprising students, developers, researchers and AI startups, will pitch their projects before expert judges at the national-level event.
Organised and hosted by Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan, with Bano Qabil as its education and youth empowerment partner and Alibaba Cloud as its global cloud and AI technology partner, the hackathon aims to encourage young Pakistanis to move beyond using AI tools and develop practical technology solutions of their own.
The Grand Finale will take place from 9am to 5pm at the Pakistan-China Friendship Centre, Garden Avenue, Shakarparian, Islamabad. Registration for attendees and media will open at 8:30am, ahead of the event’s formal commencement at 9am.
The competition follows regional qualifying rounds in which teams from across the country competed for a place in the final. The selected teams will showcase solutions developed using AI technologies and Alibaba Cloud infrastructure, with projects spanning areas such as smart agriculture, financial inclusion, regional-language AI models, healthcare diagnostics and open innovation.
The hackathon is designed to provide participants with opportunities for technical training, mentorship and access to advanced development tools, enabling them to turn ideas into practical products. The projects will be assessed on their potential to address real-world problems and deliver meaningful impact.
Organisers expect between 1,500 and 2,000 or more attendees at the Grand Finale, including participating teams, mentors, judges, technology leaders, industry representatives and invited guests. The gathering is expected to bring together key stakeholders from Pakistan’s technology ecosystem and provide a platform for collaboration between emerging innovators and established industry professionals.
The initiative builds on a broader partnership between Alibaba Cloud and Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan, which includes plans to establish dedicated AI and cloud computing training centres through the Bano Qabil network in Karachi and Lahore. The partnership aims to expand access to technology education and equip young people with skills relevant to the rapidly evolving digital economy.
Bano Qabil Pakistan Chief Executive Officer Shahid Iqbal has said the initiative seeks to transform Pakistani youth from AI users into developers capable of addressing local and global challenges. His remarks underline the programme’s emphasis on practical skills, innovation and youth empowerment.
Yilan Zhuang, Alibaba Cloud’s head of marketing for the Middle East, Türkiye and Africa, has highlighted the importance of giving young innovators access to international technology, expertise and platforms to develop their ideas.
Hexalyze Chief Executive Officer Saad Shah has also stressed that equipping young people with AI skills could help strengthen Pakistan’s technology ecosystem and boost IT exports. He has called for AI education to be introduced at an early age so that students can develop relevant skills as technology becomes increasingly important across industries.
The hackathon’s focus on practical applications reflects the growing role of artificial intelligence in sectors including agriculture, healthcare, finance and language technology. By encouraging participants to build solutions around these areas, the initiative aims to connect technical learning with challenges faced by communities, businesses and public services.
With more than 16,000 applications received and over 430 teams progressing through the regional rounds, the National Grand Finale will bring the competition to its final stage, where selected teams will present their work before judges and industry experts.
The event will also offer an opportunity for participants to connect with mentors, technology professionals and potential collaborators, while showcasing the capabilities of Pakistan’s emerging AI talent.
As Pakistan continues to develop its digital and technology sectors, the hackathon aims to support a new generation of developers and researchers who can use AI and cloud computing to create locally relevant solutions with wider applications.
