Alkhidmat Foundation's Bano Qabil and Alibaba Cloud launch AI Hackathon 2026

LAHORE -- Bano Qabil, the flagship education and skills development initiative of Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan, and Alibaba Cloud today announced the launch of the Alibaba Cloud AI Hackathon 2026, a nationwide competition designed to accelerate artificial intelligence innovation and strengthen Pakistan's emerging technology ecosystem.

The initiative was formally launched at a ceremony held at Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan's headquarters in Lahore, bringing together representatives from Alibaba Cloud, Cogniser Pakistan, Cognix Solutions, universities, incubation centers, industry, the corporate sector, and Pakistan's technology community.

The Alibaba Cloud AI Hackathon 2026 is expected to become one of Pakistan's largest AI competitions, providing students, software engineers, researchers, entrepreneurs, developers, AI professionals, and early-stage startups with an international platform to develop practical artificial intelligence solutions addressing real-world challenges.

Participants will receive technical training, mentorship from international AI experts, access to cloud technologies and development resources, and opportunities to collaborate with peers from across Pakistan. Selected projects will be showcased to investors, industry leaders, and international technology partners, creating pathways for commercialization, strategic partnerships, and global market exposure.

"The Alibaba Cloud AI Hackathon 2026 reflects our commitment to developing Pakistan's next generation of technology leaders," said Naveed Ali Baig, Chairman of Bano Qabil Pakistan. "Through world-class mentorship, practical learning, and international collaboration, we aim to equip young innovators with the skills, networks, and opportunities needed to transform promising ideas into scalable solutions with global impact."

The launch event also featured addresses by Shahid Iqbal, Chief Executive Officer of Bano Qabil Pakistan; Yilan Zhuang, Head of Marketing (Middle East, Türkiye and Africa) at Alibaba Cloud; Hank Shao, Co-Founder of Cognix Solutions; and Alibaba Cloud's authorized partner in Pakistan.

Speakers highlighted the growing importance of international collaboration in advancing artificial intelligence innovation and emphasized the role of public-private partnerships in strengthening Pakistan's digital economy.

They noted that the hackathon is intended to provide young innovators with opportunities to demonstrate their capabilities while fostering entrepreneurship, research, and technology-driven economic development.

The Alibaba Cloud AI Hackathon 2026 is part of Bano Qabil's broader mission to expand access to high-quality technology education and prepare young Pakistanis for careers in emerging digital industries.