Commerce Desk
KARACHI: Alibaba Cloud, in collaboration with Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan, has organized Pakistan’s first AI Hackathon at the ), Karachi, attracting 16,000 applications.
A total of 430 shortlisted teams presented AI-powered solutions to expert juries representing technology, banking, healthcare, industry and academia. The competition focuses on developing practical AI products through training, mentorship and access to advanced development tools.
Bano Qabil Pakistan CEO Shahid Iqbal said the initiative aims to transform Pakistani youth from AI users into developers capable of addressing local and global challenges.
Yilan Zhuang, Alibaba Cloud’s Head of Marketing for the Middle East, Türkiye and Africa, highlighted the importance of providing young innovators with international technology, expertise and platforms.
Hexalyze CEO Saad Shah stressed that equipping young people with AI skills could boost IT exports and transform Pakistan’s technology ecosystem. He also called for introducing AI education at an early age.
The initiative is part of a broader Alibaba Cloud–Alkhidmat partnership, which includes establishing dedicated AI and cloud computing training centres through the Bano Qabil network in Karachi and Lahore.
