Alibaba Cloud and Alkhidmat Foundation brought 430 shortlisted teams to Karachi for the company’s first AI hackathon in Pakistan. Participants demonstrated working artificial intelligence solutions before expert judges at the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park (NASTP).
Organisers selected the teams from more than 16,000 applications nationwide. Jury panels included representatives from technology, banking, healthcare, industry and academia.
The October 3 event marked the Karachi regional round of a national competition. Its format combines structured training, mentorship and development tools, requiring teams to build functioning products rather than simply pitch ideas.
From AI users to solution builders
Shahid Iqbal, Chief Executive Officer of Bano Qabil Pakistan, said the initiative aimed to help young Pakistanis become AI builders. He encouraged participants to develop solutions addressing both local and global challenges.
Iqbal said Bano Qabil’s ambition extended beyond teaching technical skills. It also sought to give young people opportunities to apply their knowledge, receive mentorship and connect with the wider technology ecosystem.
The competition covers six areas: smart agriculture, financial inclusion, healthcare, education, Urdu and regional language technology, and open innovation.
According to the programme website, participation is free, and applicants do not need advanced AI experience. Judges assess the problem, the application of AI and whether a product can work beyond its demonstration.
Technology access and practical support
Yilan Zhuang, Alibaba Cloud’s Head of Marketing for Middle East, Türkiye and Africa, highlighted access to international technology, expertise and platforms.
Zhuang said participants receive cloud resources, AI development tools, expert mentorship and technical guidance, alongside opportunities for national recognition. The programme aims to help promising teams turn their ideas into practical, scalable solutions.
Keynote speaker Saad Shah, Chief Executive Officer of Hexalyze, said AI had created both challenges and opportunities for Pakistan’s technology sector. Preparing graduates and young people for an AI-driven economy would shape the country’s future progress, he said.
“If we properly equip our graduates and youth for the AI universe, not only will our IT exports grow, but the entire IT ecosystem will transform, paving the way for a technology-driven society,” he said.
Shah also called for AI education and practical exposure from an early age. He said wider familiarity would encourage adoption and constructive, innovative use across society.
Training centres extend the partnership
The hackathon forms part of a broader Alibaba Cloud and Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan partnership focused on internationally relevant digital skills.
Through Bano Qabil, the partners are establishing dedicated Alibaba Cloud training centres in Karachi and Lahore. These centres will offer AI and cloud computing instruction aligned with Alibaba Cloud’s international curriculum.
The partnership places the Karachi facility at Bano Qabil’s Incubation Centre and the Lahore facility at its Innovation Centre.
Meanwhile, the national competition continues beyond Karachi. The programme website lists Islamabad’s regional evaluation on October 11 and Lahore’s next round at LUMS on October 17.
