ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has said Pakistani youth can put the country on the path to progress if they are given hope, confidence and opportunities to realise their potential.

He warned that technology without a sense of accountability could become a tool of exploitation, adding that a new system of “techno-feudalism” was replacing the traditional exploitative structures of capitalism.

Speaking as chief guest at the conclusion of Pakistan’s largest AI hackathon organised jointly by Alkhidmat Foundation and Alibaba Cloud, he urged the youth to develop expertise in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies with a commitment to serving humanity and advancing the country.

More than 16,000 youth teams from across Pakistan participated in the hackathon, which highlighted the creative potential of young people and the country’s emerging talent in artificial intelligence.

AI hackathon organised jointly by Alkhidmat Foundation and Alibaba Cloud concludes

The event was attended by diplomatic representatives from several countries, including China, Türkiye and Palestine, senior Alibaba Cloud executives, government officials, IT experts and other prominent figures.

Alkhidmat Foundation President Dr Hafeezur Rehman, Bano Qabil CEO Naveed Ali Baig, Alibaba Cloud Country Director Hank Shao and Head of Marketing Yilan Zhang also addressed the participants.

Mr Rehman congratulated Alkhidmat Foundation and Alibaba Cloud on establishing a joint platform to train young people and expand their professional opportunities. He described the hackathon as a potential game-changer not only for Pakistan but also for the wider region.

Highlighting Pakistan-China relations, he said cooperation between Alkhidmat Foundation and Alibaba Cloud would bring the people of the two countries closer by creating new opportunities for Pakistani youth.

He also referred to an existing agreement between the Communist Party of China and Jamaat-i-Islami concerning joint efforts to promote regional peace and human development. He expressed hope that young Pakistanis would gain valuable experience and knowledge through engagement with Alibaba Cloud.

The JI emir said Pakistan’s IT exports currently stood at around $4 billion to $5 billion, but could reach $40 billion within a relatively short period if young people were provided with the necessary skills, resources and opportunities.

He also drew attention to the country’s education crisis, saying nearly 28 million children were out of school.

Even young people seeking basic IT training often had to pay thousands of rupees in fees, he added.

The JI chief said a government that collected billions of rupees in taxes from citizens had a responsibility to provide free, modern and quality education.

He urged young people to raise their voices for their rights and demand better educational and professional opportunities.

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2026