The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication praised the success of the Innovation, Learning and Engagement Arena at Indus AI Week, held at the Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad, which drew thousands of students, entrepreneurs, developers and technology enthusiasts.
Across two days the Arena delivered a concentrated program of more than 40 specialized events that brought international technology pioneers together with leading local innovators to highlight Pakistan’s evolving artificial intelligence ecosystem during Indus AI Week.
The public showcase featured 11 thematic pavilions designed to strengthen core pillars of the national AI landscape. The Technology and Innovation Hub acted as a central technical nucleus, hosting an AI Startup Showcase and high-traffic exhibitions where developers engaged directly with international mentors and potential investors.
The GovTech and DefenceTech Pavilion focused on the digital transformation of public services and showcased key AI initiatives being deployed across federal agencies, while the AR/VR and Robotics Showcase offered immersive demonstrations of autonomous systems and advanced hardware that attracted steady public interest.
Commercial collaboration was prominent at the Industry Expo and Expert Talks, where global technology leaders demonstrated live AI deployments and prominent Pakistani executives delivered keynote addresses and led expert panels on applied AI and enterprise adoption.
Competitive innovation remained central to the Arena’s agenda. The URAAN AI Techathon challenged developers to build solutions for pressing national problems, and the AI for HER Pavilion advanced gender-inclusive innovation through high-level panels, hands-on workshops and showcases led by female entrepreneurs.
Workforce development was advanced through the National AI Training Bootcamp, which provided intensive technical skilling to more than 1,900 participants over two days. Startups received practical support via the Cloud Credit Sprint, which awarded performance-based cloud credits to high-potential ventures to help them scale and deploy solutions.
The Arena also combined competition and creativity: the Indus eSports Championship staged professional esports with a prize pool of PKR 4.5 million, the AI Wrapper Competition recognized practical developer tools with AxonEstate taking top prize, and the GAME JAM pushed creators through a demanding 48-hour development sprint to produce original digital games.
Following the Arena’s momentum, Indus AI Week now moves into a final phase of decentralized activities at universities and technology hubs across the country, with events continuing through 15 February 2026 to sustain engagement and broaden impact.
