AI Seekho Builders Day 2026 Brings Pakistan’s Emerging AI Builders Together in Islamabad

Google Developer Group (GDG) Islamabad, in collaboration with the National Incubation Centre (NIC) Islamabad and Mobilink Bank, hosted the AI Seekho Builders Day Hackathon 2026 on 8 and 9 August 2026 at NIC Islamabad. Held ahead of Pakistan’s Independence Day, the two-day hackathon brought together more than 80 selected developer teams, students, designers, and technology enthusiasts for an intensive programme of AI-focused build sprints, mentorship, product prototyping, networking, and live pitching.

The hackathon reflected the energy and ambition of Pakistan’s growing developer community. Throughout the event, participants worked in teams to turn early ideas into functional prototypes while receiving guidance from experienced mentors and technology leaders.

The event kicked off with an opening keynote from the GDG Islamabad team, followed by a session from NIC Islamabad that highlighted the vision behind the AI Seekho movement: helping learners become builders and making emerging technologies more accessible through community-led initiatives.

This was followed by a session from Mobilink Microfinance Bank, the event collaborator, led by Ms Komul Khan, Chief Information Technology Officer (CITO) at Mobilink Bank, which highlighted the importance of responsible AI adoption. The discussion emphasised that building AI systems responsibly and at scale requires strong data foundations, thoughtful implementation, and inclusive digital ecosystems.

Umar Nazir, Community Manager for Google in the SAP region, followed with a session on the #AISeekho campaign's growing momentum across the region. Drawing on community insights and emerging project examples, he highlighted Pakistan’s creative potential. He also discussed how AI is enabling people from both technical and non-technical backgrounds to transform ideas into products.

The technical session, From Problem to Prototype: Building with Google AI Tools, was led by Tehreem Rasul, Technical Lead at RedBuffer and Google Developer Expert in AI, who demonstrated how participants could use Google AI Studio to turn ideas into rapidly built, functional prototypes. Through a hands-on exploration of its features, teams learned how these AI tools could support the product development process, enabling them to refine, improve, and eventually scale their solutions.

Over the course of the hackathon, participants built AI-powered solutions across four challenge tracks aligned with national priorities: Sehat ki Azaadi, Kifayat ki Raah, Ilm ki Roshni, and Sabz Pakistan. Using Google AI Studio, Gemini APIs, Google Antigravity, and Android Studio’s prompt-to-app tools, teams transformed ideas into working prototypes, with support from mentors, speakers, and judges who helped them navigate technical challenges, refine their products, and prepare for their final pitches.

Day 1 concluded on a high note with a musical session, allowing participants to unwind, celebrate the day’s progress, and connect before returning for the final presentations and judging on Day 2.

On Day 2, 12 teams were shortlisted to advance to the pitching round, where they presented their products to the judging panel. The panel included Zeeshan Mazhar, Chief Digital Financial Services at Mobilink Bank; Hufsa Munawar, Senior App Growth Manager at Google; Kashif Ali, Founder and CEO of TechKhwa and Inside Solutions Architect at Zones, LLC; Abdul Rauf, Associate Director of AI and People Platforms at S&P Global; and Umair Aslam, Founder of Markaz Technologies.

The event concluded with a prize distribution ceremony, where the winning teams were recognised for their innovative solutions, with team MONAD securing first place, team CTRL X CTRL V receiving second place, and team SAFEER E MOHALLA taking third place. In his closing remarks, Syed Ahmed Masood, Project Coordinator at NIC Islamabad, appreciated the effort and execution led by GDG Islamabad and noted that initiatives like AI Seekho Builders Day create meaningful opportunities for young builders to move beyond prototypes and explore how their products can grow into full-fledged businesses. He encouraged the winning teams to continue refining their solutions and take them forward beyond the hackathon. The event closed with a networking brunch, meet-and-greet conversations, and group photos that captured the collaborative spirit of the two-day experience.

More than a competition, AI Seekho Builders Day 2026 served as a platform for Pakistan’s next generation of builders to experiment with agentic AI, develop practical solutions, and participate in the growing “Vibe Coding” movement. As Pakistan approached Independence Day, the hackathon reflected a clear message: the country’s tech community is ready to build, collaborate, and lead.

The event was made possible by a strong network of partners that supported both the participant experience and the campaign’s wider reach. NIC Islamabad joined as Venue Partner, providing the space for the community to come together. Mobilink Microfinance Bank collaborated with GDG Islamabad to support the event’s mission, while GrowLytics joined as Sponsor. Ranchers supported the event as Food Partner, Korneez and OD joined as Snack Partners, and Arc Essence served as Hydration Partner. TechJuice joined as the Digital Media Partner, HUM News as the Media Partner, and Bookkaru as the Ticketing Partner, helping to amplify the stories, projects, and voices emerging from the hackathon.