Industry leaders and practitioners from the technology sector, along with academicians and government leaders, convened at TechNova 2025 to discuss strategies for fostering AI-led growth. The event was organized at the Institute of Business Management (IoBM) by its College of Computer Science and Information Systems (CCSIS) on July 26, 2025. Later, the Closing Ceremony of TechNova 2025 was graced by the presence of Ms. Sabina Mohsin, VP FHE and Chief Advisor, IoBM as the Chief Guest. She presented mementos and awards to the participants and winners of the various competitions.
The event included an AI symposium where the speakers addressed the future of artificial intelligence. This dedicated segment brought together C-level Industry CEOs who shared their expert insights and engaged in critical discussions about the future trajectory of Artificial Intelligence. Mr. Jibran Jamshad, Country Education Lead at Microsoft Pakistan, and Brig. Musharraf Khan, Additional Director, Strategic Relations, TELECOM Group. Mr. Jibran Jamshad underscored the ongoing shift from the third to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with artificial intelligence serving as its core. He emphasized that generative AI was the pivotal path forward in the tech age, urging individuals to acquire the necessary credentials for the AI industry. Jamshad advised students to gain foundational AI knowledge through online courses.
Brig. Musharraf Khan, speaking on "AI in Education," outlined the vast opportunities, challenges, and the future direction of AI's role in assisting education. He detailed how AI could revolutionize learning by enabling interactive experiences, supporting blended models, enhancing accessibility for remote areas, providing virtual tutoring, and empowering learners with disabilities, among other benefits.
Invited as panelists were Prof. Dr. Tariq Rahim Soomro (Rector, IoBM), Dr. Syed Nadeem Ahsan (Division Head IT & Cyber Security, KINPOE), Prof. Dr. Najeed Ahmed (NED University), Mr. Ahsan Mashkoor (Co-Founder, wAI and C-Square), Mr. Adnan Zaidi (Chief AI Officer, Proxima.pk) and Syed Kashif Rafi (Registrar, ILMA University). Prof. Dr. Muhammad Abbas, Dean, CCSIS-IoBM moderated the session. The participants engaged in discussions about various aspects of Artificial Intelligence and related technological advancements, sharing insights, innovations, strategies, and how they can benefit academia and the industry.
Across diverse fields, speakers consistently highlighted AI's profound and transformative impact. A clear consensus emerged: students must embrace AI technology, recognizing its power to streamline tasks. Discussions also underscored the critical role of ethics in AI implementation, particularly in how AI is reshaping academia and redesigning education. Ultimately, AI was presented as a robust platform for accessing data, information, and innovative solutions. The speakers collectively agreed that smart tools and applications are enabling faster task completion, noting a bombardment of such tools across all industries. Importantly, they also discussed how AI will not supersede human creativity, opinion, or the invaluable learning acquired through independent task execution.
A significant highlight of TechNova 2025 was the Inter-University Competitions, which drew students from over 25 universities across Karachi and Islamabad. These competitions provided a valuable opportunity for young talent to demonstrate their technical prowess and entrepreneurial spirit across various modules. The competitions included: Final Year Project Competition, Speed Programming, Prompt Engineering, Web & Logo Design, Startup Launchpad, MathsMania, and E-Sports.
TechNova 2025 proved to be a resounding success, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange at the intersection of academia, industry, and government, all with a focus on advancing AI-led growth in Pakistan.
TechNova 2025 stood as a remarkable testament to the hard work, dedication, and commitment demonstrated by the CCSIS – IoBM. Leading this significant endeavor was Prof. Dr. Muhammad Abbas, whose guidance, blended with the invaluable support of his dedicated faculty and the dynamic contributions of student societies, notably IEEE and Digicon, ensured the event's resounding success. This collaborative spirit and collective effort were the true driving forces behind TechNova 2025's impactful culmination.