Pakistan held its first national Quantum Computing Hackathon from February 6 to 8, 2026, at the National Centre for Physics (NCP) in Islamabad. The three-day event was jointly organized by the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) and the National Institute of Lasers and Optronics (NILOP), both operating under the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), in collaboration with NCP, as reported by The Quantum Insider.
International support came from the Open Quantum Institute (OQI) at CERN, which provided technical mentorship, certifications, and prizes. An international jury comprising experts from the United States, Switzerland, and Pakistan evaluated the final projects. More than 950 applications were submitted nationwide, and 42 participants were selected and divided into seven teams.
PAEC Chairman Dr. Raja Ali Raza Anwar inaugurated the event and called it a strategic step toward positioning Pakistan in advanced science and technology, according to 24 News HD. Participants developed quantum-based solutions aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of IT and Telecommunications, and the Pakistan Academy of Sciences attended.