Alibaba Cloud, in collaboration with Alkhidmat Foundation, recently held its first AI Hackathon in Pakistan at the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park (NASTP) in Karachi. Of 16,000 applications, 430 teams presented AI-powered solutions to expert juries from various sectors. The competition emphasized developing functional AI products, with participants receiving structured training and mentorship.

Shahid Iqbal, CEO of Bano Qabil Pakistan, said the hackathon aimed to shift youth from merely using AI to creating solutions for local and global challenges. Yilan Zhuang, Head of Marketing for Alibaba Cloud in the Middle East, emphasized the importance of providing young talent with access to technology and expertise.

Keynote speaker Saad Shah, CEO of Hexalyze, said equipping youth with AI skills is essential to Pakistan’s progress in an AI-driven economy. He advocated for introducing AI education early to foster innovation. This initiative is part of a partnership to equip young Pakistanis with AI and cloud computing skills, including creating Alibaba Cloud training centers in Karachi and Lahore.