Alibaba Cloud AI Hackathon brings 749 finalists to grand finale

The Lahore Regional Round (Picture Credit : Alkhidmat foundation and Bano Qabil Pakistan)

ISLAMABAD, Oct. 24 (Gwadar Pro) - Alibaba Cloud, the cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) arm of China’s Alibaba Group, in collaboration with Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan’s Bano Qabil initiative and Cognix, is set to bring together young innovators from across Pakistan for the grand finale of the country’s largest Alibaba Cloud AI Hackathon on Saturday.

The competition has attracted more than 16,000 applications nationwide, with 749 participants presenting 300 AI projects at the final stage after qualifying through regional rounds in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. The grand finale will take place at the Pak-China Friendship Centre in Islamabad from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on October 24, 2026.

The finalists will showcase AI-powered solutions across six categories: smart agriculture, healthcare, education, financial inclusion, Urdu and regional language technology, and open innovation. The initiative aims to promote innovation among Pakistan’s young people and encourage the development of practical AI applications to address challenges in key sectors of the economy and society.

At University of Central Punjab (UCP), Lahore Round (Pic Credit: Alkhidmat foundation and Bano Qabil Pakistan)

Through the collaboration, Alkhidmat Foundation’s Bano Qabil initiative, Alibaba Cloud and Cognix are providing a platform for aspiring technology professionals to demonstrate their capabilities and explore the potential of AI-driven solutions.

The focus on areas such as agriculture, healthcare and education highlights the potential application of AI to local needs, while the Urdu and regional language technology category encourages innovation that can make digital tools more accessible to Pakistan’s linguistically diverse population.

Photo Credit : Alkhidmat foundation and Bano Qabil Pakistan

The hackathon also provides an opportunity for young developers to explore AI applications in financial inclusion and other areas where emerging technologies could improve access to services and support economic participation.

The event reflects growing efforts to develop Pakistan’s digital talent and strengthen its capacity to participate in the expanding global AI ecosystem.

By bringing together young developers, technology partners and social-sector organizations, the initiative seeks to encourage homegrown innovation and support the development of solutions tailored to Pakistan’s needs.

Picture Credit: Bano Qabil Pakistan