Women Tech Quest 2026 Draws Participants Across Three Cities
KARACHI, October 10, 2026: The 10th edition of Women Tech Quest (WTQ) 2026 brought together 1,000 women for a technology competition organised by 10Pearls, with activities held simultaneously in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.
The event received more than 5,000 registrations from across Pakistan and focused on applying artificial intelligence (AI) to coding, design, quality assurance and software testing.
Held under the theme “Compete. Create. Connect.”, the competition aimed to provide women with opportunities to demonstrate their technical abilities, solve practical problems using AI tools and build professional connections within the technology sector.
The 10th edition marked a decade of efforts to encourage women’s participation in technology through competitions, skills development and networking opportunities.
Karachi Hosts More Than 600 Participants
The competition attracted participants at three venues across the country. Around 200 women attended the event at FAST-NUCES in Islamabad, another 200 gathered at the 10Pearls office in Lahore, while more than 600 participated at the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park (NASTP) in Karachi.
In addition to the competition, more than 400 people attended conference sessions, panel discussions and networking activities.
The programme brought together technology professionals, industry representatives and other stakeholders to discuss emerging opportunities in AI and the importance of developing relevant technical skills.
By combining practical challenges with professional engagement, Women Tech Quest sought to connect participants with the wider technology ecosystem and encourage greater participation in Pakistan’s digital economy.
Three Competition Categories Focus on Practical AI Applications
Women Tech Quest 2026 featured three categories designed to explore different applications of artificial intelligence.
- Build with AI: Focused on coding and the use of AI tools to develop solutions to practical problems.
- Imagine with AI: Centred on design and the application of AI in creative work.
- Validate with AI: Focused on quality assurance and software testing, including the use of AI to support validation processes.
Participants were challenged to apply AI tools to real-world problems, highlighting the growing role of these technologies across software development, creative work and quality assurance.
The three-category structure also provided opportunities for women with different technical interests and skill sets to demonstrate their abilities.
Government, Diplomatic and Banking Representatives Attend
The event was attended by British Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi Alison Blackburne, British High Commission Head of Lahore Office Ben Warrington, Chief of Staff at the Office of AI and Special Initiatives Aman Arman, and Bank of Punjab Head of Governance, Digital Banking Sidra Jawaid.
Their participation reflected the involvement of stakeholders from diplomatic, public-sector and financial institutions in discussions surrounding women’s participation in technology and the development of digital skills.
The event also featured conference sessions and panel discussions, offering participants opportunities to engage with professionals and explore industry trends.
10Pearls Highlights Women’s Role in Pakistan’s Digital Economy
Speaking at the event, 10Pearls Managing Director for the Middle East and Pakistan Rabia Azfar Nizami said Women Tech Quest was launched a decade ago to give women opportunities to demonstrate their abilities, strengthen technical skills and build careers in technology.
She emphasised that platforms providing women with access to skills, professional networks and industry opportunities were important for enabling them to contribute to Pakistan’s digital economy.
As AI adoption expands across industries, technical proficiency and the ability to apply emerging tools to practical challenges are becoming increasingly important. Initiatives such as Women Tech Quest aim to create opportunities for women to develop these capabilities and connect with potential professional pathways.
Nine Winners Share Rs500,000 in Prize Money
Nine winners were announced across the three competition categories, sharing total prize money of Rs500,000.
The winners also received AI credits and giveaways from Google and Figma, providing additional resources and incentives for participants working with technology and design tools.
The event was supported by Lay’s, the Bank of Punjab, Figma, Hilton Pharma and Cheezious.
The involvement of corporate and technology partners helped support an initiative focused on technical development, competition and professional networking.
A Decade of Encouraging Women in Technology
Over the past 10 years, Women Tech Quest has sought to encourage women’s participation in the technology sector through competitions, skills development and opportunities to build professional relationships.
Its 2026 edition comes as the adoption of artificial intelligence creates new opportunities while increasing demand for technical capabilities across the digital economy.
With more than 5,000 registrations and 1,000 participants across three cities, the event highlighted continued interest in AI-related learning and competition among women in Pakistan.
The initiative’s broader focus remains on helping women develop relevant skills, demonstrate their capabilities and access networks that can support their participation in the technology workforce.