Islamabad, February 10, 2026: The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication on Tuesday highlighted the success of the Innovation, Learning and Engagement Arena, the main public showcase of Indus AI Week 2026, held at the Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad.
Over two days, the Arena became the most vibrant part of the national AI event, attracting thousands of students, entrepreneurs, developers, and technology enthusiasts from across the country. More than 40 specialised sessions and activities were held, bringing together global technology leaders and local innovators to highlight Pakistan’s fast-growing artificial intelligence ecosystem.
The Arena featured 11 thematic pavilions, each focused on a key area of AI development. The Technology and Innovation Hub served as the centre of activity, hosting an AI startup showcase and interactive exhibitions where local developers connected directly with international mentors and investors.
The GovTech and DefenceTech Pavilion highlighted the use of AI in public sector reform, showcasing digital initiatives currently being implemented within federal institutions. Meanwhile, the AR/VR and Robotics Pavilion drew strong public interest with immersive experiences, autonomous systems, and advanced robotics demonstrations.
Industry collaboration was a major focus at the Industry Expo and Expert Talks, where global technology firms presented live AI deployments. Senior Pakistani tech leaders also shared insights through keynote speeches and panel discussions on enterprise AI adoption.
Innovation competitions remained a key attraction. The URAAN AI Techathon challenged developers to build AI solutions for national-level problems, while the AI for HER Pavilion promoted gender-inclusive innovation through workshops, panel discussions, and women-led startup showcases.
Skills development took centre stage at the National AI Training Bootcamp, which provided hands-on technical training to over 1,900 participants in just two days, supporting workforce readiness in emerging technologies.
Adding a creative and competitive edge, the Indus eSports Championship featured professional-level esports competitions with a prize pool of PKR 4.5 million. The AI Wrapper Competition rewarded developers building real-world AI tools, with AxonEstate securing the top prize. Meanwhile, the 48-hour GAME JAM showcased creative endurance as teams developed original digital games under intense time constraints.
Startups also received direct support through the Cloud Credit Sprint, which awarded cloud infrastructure credits to promising ventures, helping them scale and deploy AI solutions.
With the successful conclusion of the Arena, Indus AI Week 2026 now moves into its final phase, featuring decentralised events at universities and technology hubs across Pakistan, continuing until February 15, 2026.
