ISLAMABAD, Feb 10 (APP): The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication on Tuesday highlighted the success of the Innovation, Learning and Engagement Arena, the flagship public showcase of Indus AI Week 2026.
Over two days, the Arena served as the high-energy focal point of the national AI gathering, welcoming thousands of students, entrepreneurs, developers and technology enthusiasts.
More than 40 specialised events were held, bringing together global technology leaders and prominent local innovators to showcase Pakistan’s rapidly evolving artificial intelligence ecosystem.
The Arena featured 11 dedicated thematic pavilions, each designed to strengthen a key pillar of the country’s AI landscape.
The Technology and Innovation Hub functioned as the technical nucleus, hosting an AI Startup Showcase and high-traffic exhibitions that enabled developers to engage directly with international mentors and potential investors.
The GovTech and DefenceTech Pavilion focused on the digital transformation of public services, highlighting artificial intelligence initiatives underway across the federal government. Meanwhile, the AR/VR and Robotics Showcase offered immersive experiences featuring autonomous systems and advanced hardware, drawing strong public interest throughout the event.
Industry collaboration took centre stage at the Industry Expo and Expert Talks, where global technology companies demonstrated live AI deployments, while leading Pakistani tech executives delivered keynote addresses and participated in expert panels on applied AI and enterprise adoption.
Innovation challenges formed a core part of the Arena’s programming. The URAAN AI Techathon challenged developers to design solutions for pressing national issues. At the same time, the AI for HER Pavilion promoted gender-inclusive innovation through high-level panel discussions, hands-on workshops and female-led startup showcases.
Education and workforce development were advanced through the National AI Training Bootcamp, which provided intensive technical training to more than 1,900 participants over the two-day event.
Adding a competitive and creative dimension, the Indus eSports Championship brought professional esports to the Arena, offering a total prize pool of Rs. 4.5 million across multiple titles. The AI Wrapper Competition recognised developers building practical, real-world AI tools, with AxonEstate securing the top prize. Creative endurance was further highlighted during the GAME JAM, where participants completed an intensive 48-hour development sprint to produce original digital games.
Startups also received direct infrastructure support through the Cloud Credit Sprint, which awarded performance-based cloud credits to high-potential ventures, enabling them to scale and deploy their solutions.
Following the success of the Innovation, Learning and Engagement Arena, Indus AI Week 2026 has now entered its final phase, featuring decentralised events at universities and technology hubs across the country, scheduled to continue until February 15, 2026.