Pakistan’s largest technology exhibition, “Teknofest Pakistan”, kicked off today at the Expo Center, inaugurated by Hafiz Muhammad Abish Siddiqui, the Head of Islami Jamiat Talaba Karachi and Teknofest Pakistan. Among the distinguished guests were Javed Balwani, Chairman of Karachi Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Munawar Hassan, Vice-Chancellor of Sir Syed University, Brigadier (R) Ahmed Hassan, Vice-Chancellor of DHA Suffa University, and Irfan Haider, Vice-Chancellor of Salim Habib University, alongside several experts from the technology sector who attended the event throughout the day.
It was shared during the event that Teknofest features over 200 stalls showcasing information technology, artificial intelligence, job fairs, and various other industrial sectors. Furthermore, over 30 multinational companies are conducting interviews during the event, providing employment opportunities for students.
More than 50 competitions are being held during the festival, covering fields like cybersecurity, robo-wars, and other cutting-edge technologies. Cash prizes worth 10 million rupees will be awarded throughout the exhibition.
Students have set up 100 stalls displaying their projects, with the best project being awarded the “Innovation of the Year” prize of 1 million rupees. The total prize money for the event is set at 10 million rupees.
In his opening speech, Hafiz Muhammad Abish Siddiqui remarked that “Teknofest Pakistan will act as a bridge between students and industry, and will mark a significant milestone for students aspiring for a bright future in technology.” He expressed his gratitude to the participants and guests, hoping that through this event, the youth of Pakistan would be able to fully utilize their creative talents.
Javed Balwani congratulated Islami Jamiat Talaba for organizing such a successful event, stating that “This event will serve as a bridge between technology and industry in Pakistan and will bring a bright future for the students.”
Irfan Malik, a social media influencer and CEO of Xeven Solutions, remarked, “Those associated with IT cannot be held back by the government. We spend a lot of our time on social media for entertainment, and then people come and boast about how much money their children are earning in dollars. I ask them, where did their childhood go?” He praised the organizers of Teknofest for hosting such a successful exhibition.
Cybersecurity expert and former Director of FIA, Ammar Jafri, stated, “Relying on the government for technology is impossible.” He added that those who fear losing their jobs to artificial intelligence in the future are absolutely right in their concerns. He lamented that while universities teach technology, they fail to impart practical skills. Answering questions from the audience, he advised that young children should have a screen time limit of only one hour.
The festival aims to pull students out of despair, connect them with industry, and eliminate the culture of hopelessness in Pakistan. Teknofest Pakistan will continue for two days, with the exhibition open from 10 AM to 9 PM.
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