The ZABEFEST’26 technology festival brought together students, innovators, researchers, and industry professionals to celebrate emerging technologies and innovation at SZABIST University Karachi.
The ZABEFEST’26 event created opportunities for collaboration, practical learning, and showcasing ideas designed to address real-world challenges through technology.
SZABIST University Hosts ZABEFEST’26
SZABIST University organized ZABEFEST’26 through its Faculty of Computing and Engineering Sciences at the Karachi Campus.
The two-day event welcomed students, entrepreneurs, technology enthusiasts, and industry representatives from different institutions.
Participants engaged in competitions, exhibitions, and networking opportunities designed to encourage innovation and knowledge exchange.
The festival also reinforced collaboration between academia and industry.
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Sajid Mirza Inspires Participants
The opening ceremony featured Dr. Sajid Mirza and Aziz Shaikh as chief guests.
Dr. Sajid Mirza encouraged students to remain committed to hard work, integrity, and modesty while pursuing success.
Meanwhile, Aziz Shaikh emphasized the value of strong technical foundations and continuous learning during the evolving AI landscape.
Their remarks highlighted the importance of adaptability and long-term professional growth.
ZABEFEST’26 Innovation Competitions
One of the major attractions of ZABEFEST’26 was its wide range of competition categories.
The festival featured more than 30 competition modules including the FYP Expo, machine learning challenges, hackathons, Fusion Flow activities, line-following robotics, coding contests, and gaming competitions.
These activities created opportunities for students to demonstrate technical abilities and present innovative concepts.
The competitions also encouraged teamwork and problem-solving skills.
FYP Expo And Emerging Technologies
A major highlight of ZABEFEST’26 was the Final Year Project Expo, where around 210 projects were presented.
Industry professionals evaluated projects and provided students with feedback and professional engagement opportunities.
The festival also hosted workshops and panel discussions focused on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
These sessions encouraged participants to explore current technological developments and future applications.
Altaf Mukati And Faraz Junejo Vision
During the opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Altaf Mukati encouraged students to focus on collaboration, research, commercialization, and entrepreneurship.
Prof. Dr. Faraz Junejo also urged participants to pursue innovation and develop solutions for practical challenges.
Their messages emphasized the role of education in building future technology leaders.
The event reflected the growing importance of research-driven learning.
Jamal Nasir Khan Closing Address
The closing ceremony welcomed Jamal Nasir Khan.
He appreciated the dedication shown by participants and highlighted the importance of stronger industry-academia collaboration.
He also emphasized the growing importance of cybersecurity and preparing students for future technology demands.
The event concluded with recognition for innovation and student achievement.
ZABEFEST’26 Inspires Future Talent
With participation exceeding 1,600 students and a prize pool of PKR 1.5 million, ZABEFEST’26 became a significant platform for technology engagement.
The festival encouraged innovation, collaboration, and creative problem-solving.
Participants gained exposure to industry expectations and future opportunities.
The event concluded by reinforcing the importance of developing technology talent for Pakistan’s future.
