Alibaba Cloud, in collaboration with Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan, has organised its first AI hackathon in Pakistan at the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park (NASTP) in Karachi, bringing together hundreds of teams to develop practical artificial intelligence solutions.
A total of 430 shortlisted teams presented and demonstrated their AI-powered projects before expert jury panels representing technology, banking, healthcare, industry and academia. The teams were selected from 16,000 applications.
The competition focuses on developing functional AI products rather than simply presenting ideas. Participants receive structured training, mentorship, technical guidance and access to AI development tools and cloud resources to help turn their concepts into practical solutions.
From AI Users to Solution Builders
Shahid Iqbal, Chief Executive Officer of Bano Qabil Pakistan, said the initiative marked an important step towards helping Pakistani youth move from using AI technologies to building solutions for local and global challenges.
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He said Bano Qabil aimed not only to equip young people with technical skills but also to provide opportunities to apply their knowledge, receive mentorship and connect with the wider technology ecosystem.
Yilan Zhuang, Head of Marketing for the Middle East, Türkiye and Africa at Alibaba Cloud, highlighted the importance of giving emerging talent access to international technology, expertise and development platforms.
She said the hackathon offered participants cloud resources, AI development tools, expert mentorship and technical support, along with opportunities for national recognition. The programme is designed to help promising teams transform their ideas into scalable AI solutions.
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Keynote speaker Saad Shah, CEO of Hexalyze, said the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence had created both challenges and opportunities for the technology sector.
He stressed that Pakistan needed to equip its young people and graduates with the skills required to participate in the evolving AI-driven economy.
“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,” Shah said.
He also called for AI education and practical applications to be introduced at an early age. Greater exposure, he said, could encourage wider adoption and promote constructive and innovative uses of the technology across society.
Alibaba Cloud and Alkhidmat Expand Training Opportunities
The hackathon forms part of a broader partnership between Alibaba Cloud and Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan to equip young Pakistanis with internationally relevant skills in artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
Under the partnership, dedicated Alibaba Cloud training centres are being established through the Bano Qabil network in Karachi and Lahore. The centres will offer AI and cloud computing courses aligned with Alibaba Cloud’s international curriculum.
The initiative aims to strengthen technical skills, expand access to advanced digital tools and help young people develop solutions with practical applications.
By combining training, mentorship and hands-on development, the organisers hope to support Pakistan’s emerging technology talent and encourage greater participation in the global AI economy.
