The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication highlighted the success of the Innovation, Learning and Engagement Arena, the flagship public showcase of Indus AI Week 2026, held at the Pakistan Sports Complex, Islamabad.
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 specialized events were hosted, bringing together global technology pioneers and leading local innovators to spotlight Pakistan’s rapidly evolving artificial intelligence ecosystem.
The Arena featured 11 dedicated thematic pavilions, each designed to strengthen a core pillar of the country’s AI landscape. The Technology and Innovation Hub acted as the technical nucleus, hosting an AI Startup Showcase and high-traffic exhibitions that enabled developers to engage directly with international mentors and investors.
The GovTech and DefenceTech Pavilion focused on the digital transformation of public services, highlighting key AI initiatives currently being deployed within the federal bureaucracy. Meanwhile, the AR/VR and Robotics Showcase offered immersive experiences featuring autonomous systems and cutting-edge hardware, drawing strong public engagement throughout the event.
Commercial and industry collaboration took center stage at the Industry Expo and Expert Talks, where global technology leaders demonstrated live AI deployments, and prominent Pakistani tech executives delivered keynotes and led expert panels on applied AI and enterprise adoption.
Innovation challenges played a central role in the Arena’s programming. The URAAN AI Techathon tasked developers with building solutions to pressing national challenges, while the AI for HER Pavilion promoted gender-inclusive innovation through high-level panels, hands-on workshops, and female-led startup showcases.
Education and workforce development were advanced through the National AI Training Bootcamp, which provided intensive technical skilling to more than 1,900 participants over the course of two days.
Adding a competitive and creative dimension, the Indus eSports Championship brought professional esports to the Arena, offering a prize pool of PKR 4.5 million across multiple titles. The AI Wrapper Competition (AWC) recognized developers building practical, real-world AI tools, with AxonEstate securing the top prize. Creative endurance was further showcased during the GAME JAM, where participants undertook an intensive 48-hour development sprint to produce original digital games.
Startups also benefited from 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.
With the success of the Innovation, Learning and Engagement Arena, Indus AI Week 2026 now transitions into its final phase, featuring decentralized events at universities and technology hubs nationwide, continuing through 15 February 2026.
