Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman Awards Winners at Pakistan’s Largest AI Hackathon Grand Finale
Over 16,000 youth teams participate in an AI hackathon organized by Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan in collaboration with Alibaba Cloud.
Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan chief Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman has emphasized the importance of empowering young people, promoting artificial intelligence and expanding Pakistan’s information technology exports.
Addressing Pakistan’s largest AI hackathon, organized by Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan in collaboration with Alibaba Cloud, he said approximately 150 million people in Pakistan are aged 30 or younger. He stressed that providing these young people with opportunities, modern skills and practical training could help transform the country’s future.
Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman stated that Pakistan’s IT exports stood at approximately $4.5 billion, while the country had the potential to achieve exports worth $30 billion to $40 billion. He called for effective government policies and practical initiatives to help young professionals realize their potential.
Highlighting Alkhidmat Foundation’s work, he said the organization was contributing to education, healthcare, disaster relief and community welfare. He also discussed the Bano Qabil initiative, which provides young people with opportunities to develop information technology skills.
He thanked Alibaba Cloud for collaborating with Alkhidmat Foundation and Bano Qabil, adding that more than 16,000 projects were presented by young participants at the hackathon. He described the event as an important milestone and called for continued cooperation to promote technological innovation.
He also emphasized the importance of responsible artificial intelligence, warning that technological progress without ethical values and human compassion could negatively affect society. He stressed that technology should benefit humanity rather than concentrate power in the hands of a few.
Speaking about education, he maintained that quality education was a fundamental right, not charity. He questioned why the government could not provide free, quality education when organizations were already working to expand educational opportunities.
He concluded by encouraging participants, saying that everyone who took part was a winner. He expressed hope that investment in youth, digital skills and technological innovation would create new opportunities and strengthen Pakistan’s economy.