LAHORE:The grand finale of the Alibaba Cloud AI Hackathon Pakistan, organised jointly by Alibaba Cloud and Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan, was held at the Pak-China Friendship Centre in Islamabad, marking a significant step towards connecting the country's young talent with opportunities in artificial intelligence and global technology.
Described as Pakistan's largest AI hackathon, the national competition brought together young innovators from across the country to develop practical AI-based projects, demonstrate their technical capabilities and propose innovative solutions to real-world challenges.
More than 16,000 AI projects were submitted by young participants from across Pakistan. Following regional rounds in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, 300 teams qualified for the national grand finale. Teams securing the first, second and third positions received prizes, while runners-up in six categories were also rewarded.
The event featured a total prize pool of $60,000, comprising $30,000 in cash prizes and $30,000 in Alibaba Cloud credits. The credits are intended to help successful teams further develop and scale their projects. The project titled 'Salix' secured first place at the Alibaba Cloud AI Hackathon 2026, winning a prize of $7,000.
Participants presented AI-driven projects across six categories: healthcare, financial inclusion, education, smart agriculture, open innovation, and Urdu and regional languages. The hackathon aimed to move beyond the use of AI tools alone by encouraging young people to develop their own products and practical technology solutions. Participants were also provided with training, mentorship and access to advanced digital tools to help turn their ideas into workable projects.
The event was attended by Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Ameer Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman, Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan President Dr Hafeez Ur Rehman, Co-Founder, Cognix Solutions and Authorised Partner Alibaba Cloud Hank Shao, Alibaba Cloud Head of Marketing for the Middle East, Trkiye and Africa Yilan Zhuang, Bano Qabil Program Chairman Naveed Ali Baig, CEO Shahid Iqbal, diplomatic representatives from various countries, technology experts, industry professionals and representatives of the education sector.
Addressing the gathering, Professor Dr. Hafeezur Rehman said the hackathon, organised in Pakistan through a partnership between Alibaba Cloud and Alkhidmat Foundation, was a source of hope for young people and a significant milestone in the country's technological development. He said nearly two-thirds of Pakistan's population comprised young people, making investment in their education and skills essential for the country's future. Three years ago, Alkhidmat launched the Bano Qabil programme to provide free training in modern information technology courses, helping young people acquire skills, access employment opportunities and create livelihood opportunities for others.
As artificial intelligence began transforming industries worldwide, Alkhidmat introduced AI courses and subsequently partnered with Alibaba Cloud to provide Pakistani youth with opportunities to demonstrate their potential, he added.
Dr. Hafeezur Rehman said the response to the hackathon had exceeded expectations. According to him, around 40,000 young people participated, submitting more than 16,000 projects. Of these, 1,200 projects were selected, followed by regional competitions in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, from which 300 teams qualified for the grand finale. He said every young person who presented a project at the hackathon was a winner, as participation itself reflected the initiative and determination required to transform ideas into practical solutions.
Alibaba Cloud Vice President Eric Wan praised the digital capabilities of Pakistani youth, saying that access to quality education, advanced technology and appropriate opportunities could enable them to become innovators and entrepreneurs in the field of artificial intelligence.
He appreciated Alkhidmat Foundation's efforts to provide free IT education through the Bano Qabil programme and described the partnership between the two organisations as important for identifying and developing AI talent in Pakistan.He encouraged young participants to develop practical solutions to challenges in education, healthcare, agriculture and other sectors, and to use their skills to bring about positive change at both national and international levels.