Pakistani student teams win honors at Google-backed Asia-Pacific tech competition
Pakistani students awarded for AI tools in disaster alerts and neurodivergent accessibility at regional tech contest
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (MNTV) — Two student teams from Pakistan have earned international recognition at the 2025 Asia-Pacific (APAC) Solution Challenge, a regional technology competition supported by Google and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Competing against over 750 teams from 12 countries, Team GeoGemma from Islamabad’s Institute of Space Technology (IST) won the Best AI Use Award for their innovative application of satellite imagery and artificial intelligence.
Their solution, powered by Google’s Gemini API, delivers early warning alerts and risk assessments for disaster-prone regions, offering life-saving potential in areas vulnerable to natural hazards.
According to the Embassy of Pakistan in Manila, GeoGemma’s team — comprising Ahmed Iqbal, Hanzila Bin Younas, Khalil Ur Rehman, and Abdullah Asif — was praised for its cutting-edge use of geospatial data in enhancing disaster preparedness and resilience.
Another Pakistani group, Team i+1 from NUCES FAST, also reached the competition’s Top 10 finalists. Their project uses artificial intelligence to simplify complex documents for neurodivergent individuals, promoting greater accessibility and inclusivity in information access. Their tool was also developed using Gemini’s capabilities.
Finalists from countries including South Korea, Japan, Singapore, the Philippines, and Indonesia also competed in the event, which highlights AI-driven solutions to real-world challenges across the region.
To celebrate their success, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr. Asima Rabbani, hosted both teams at her official residence.
She praised their achievements and acknowledged the role of academic mentors and institutions in fostering innovation. Ambassador Rabbani emphasized that such recognition reflects Pakistan’s growing presence in the global AI and technology ecosystem.
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