The technological landscape in Muzaffarabad is experiencing a significant shift today with the official inauguration ceremony of the IT Excellence Centre and Software Technology Park. Located at the F-Block of the New Prime Minister House in Jalalabad, this facility is intended to serve as a hub for regional digital growth and professional development. This opening occurs alongside the wider announcement of Indus AI Week, an expansive series of events scheduled to take place from February 9 to February 15, 2026. Organized by Ministry of IT & Telecom under the Tech Destination Pakistan initiative, the week is dedicated to celebrating innovation across the country. By establishing these localized centers of excellence, the government aims to provide the necessary infrastructure for startups and researchers to thrive, ensuring that the latest advancements in artificial intelligence are integrated into the national economic fabric. The timing of this ceremony provides a physical foundation for the digital discussions and competitions that will define the upcoming week in Islamabad and beyond.
A major pillar of the upcoming Indus AI Week is the focus on gender inclusivity through the AI FOR HER initiative, which seeks to bridge the digital divide for women and girls. On February 9, Fahmida Iqbal, Deputy Country Representative at UN Women, will lead a session titled From Digital Divide to Digital Dividend, focusing on strategies to ensure artificial intelligence works equitably for all segments of Pakistani society. This will be followed by a spotlight session featuring Eunkyeong Kang, a Programme Specialist at UN Women, who will detail the digitalization initiative for women’s economic empowerment. The dialogue expands on February 10 with a high-level panel discussion focused on women-led AI startups and their journey from initial idea to societal impact. Moderated by Muazima Batool Agha, the panel brings together influential voices such as Farah Sheikh, CHRO at Easypaisa, Izza Farrakh from World Bank, and Sarah Pervaiz, Head of Education at British Council. The discussion will also include insights from Nausheen Ashraf, CEO of Foresight Technologies, and Abu Bakar, CEO of IT Impact Consulting. These sessions are designed to inspire a new generation of female founders and provide a roadmap for scaling creativity in a competitive global market.
The programming for the week also highlights technical proficiency and community engagement through the AI Wrapper Competition and the Indus eSports Championship. The AI Wrapper Competition has assembled a distinguished panel of judges to evaluate the most creative and functional AI solutions developed by local participants. This panel includes industry veterans such as Waqar Ali, CEO of Betacodes, and Jahanzaib Nasir, CTO of Betacodes, alongside international representatives Zeeshan Kamal Siddiqi, VP at Lenovo, and Luc Yu, VP at Supermicro. These judges will be looking for impactful applications of AI that solve real-world problems while demonstrating technical stability. Simultaneously, the eSports community is invited to the Islamabad Sports Complex for the Indus eSports Championship, taking place from February 9 to February 10 at the Pakistan Pavilion. The tournament offers gamers a chance to compete for substantial prizes while demonstrating the strategic and technical precision required in modern digital sports. By integrating these competitive tracks, the event ensures that various facets of the tech ecosystem, from enterprise software to interactive entertainment, are given a platform for visibility and growth.
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