Youth summit in Abbottabad highlights AI, digital skills and entrepreneurship

Digital transformation, artificial intelligence and youth entrepreneurship were the main themes at the 9th Metrix Pakistan Youth

 Digital transformation, artificial intelligence and youth entrepreneurship were the main themes at the 9th Metrix Pakistan Youth Summit held on Wednesday at COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus.

The one-day summit gathered a diverse mix of participants — university students, faculty members, young startup founders, IT professionals, government officials and business leaders from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The event was jointly organized by Metrix Pakistan, the Directorate of Youth Affairs KP, District Youth Office Abbottabad and the District Administration Abbottabad. The Directorate had earlier described the summit as a dedicated platform to promote education, skills, innovation and youth-led opportunities.

The programme featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, hands-on workshops, startup pitch presentations, project exhibitions and award distributions. A common thread across all sessions was how education and employment are rapidly evolving in the digital economy and what youth need to prepare for it.

Deputy Commissioner Abbottabad Capt (R) Sarmad Saleem Akram, who was the chief guest, said that young people must be equipped with modern sciences and digital tools as the job market continues to shift. He said student-led projects showcased at the summit proved that with proper institutional support, youth can create practical solutions to local challenges. He also highlighted how technology can be used to improve civic and municipal services.

District Police Officer Haroon Rashid Khan focused on technology in policing. His talk covered crime mapping, quick emergency response, child protection mechanisms, traffic management systems and strategies to combat cybercrime.

Assistant Commissioner Afrasyab Zubair Hundal introduced the district administration’s upcoming initiative — the Khidmatguzaar mobile app. The app is being designed as a one-window digital service to help citizens access government services without repeated office visits.

District Youth Officer Bushra Masroor, who also received an Excellence Award for her contributions to youth engagement and women empowerment, said such youth platforms are essential to connect students with mentors, employers and industry networks.

From academia, Prof Dr Jamshed Iqbal, Dean Faculty of Sciences at COMSATS Abbottabad and recipient of Tamgha-i-Imtiaz and Sitara-i-Imtiaz, along with Ghias Shah, took part in discussions on strengthening the link between university research, innovation and market needs.

A major part of the summit was devoted to future skills and digital careers. Sessions covered artificial intelligence, blockchain, cybersecurity, digital marketing, freelancing and digital media. Experts explained how these skills are being used in tech companies and online businesses, giving students a clear picture of new career paths.

In the startup pitching segment, young entrepreneurs presented their business ideas in front of industry experts and investors. The session helped them practice business communication, product positioning and handling investor questions.

Among the speakers were Qaisar Akash Khan, Ammad Ali (Founder & CEO RankingGrow), Waqar Ali (CEO Zarar TV), Kashif Ali (CEO TechKhwa), Dr Faiza Nawaz (Hazara University Mansehra) and Muhammad Junaid Iqbal. A special session on blockchain education was conducted by Rizwan, Community Manager Binance Pakistan, under Binance Academy.

The exhibition area allowed students and organizations to display their projects. It became a networking space where students discussed jobs, freelancing and entrepreneurship opportunities with companies directly.

The event ended with the Pride of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Awards. Organizers said they received 368 nominations this year, out of which four were selected after detailed review.

The winners included Ashfaq Ahmad from Swabi for his work in healthcare, including setting up an emergency orthopaedic, sports and spine centre in Topi; Dr Faisal Khan from COMSATS Abbottabad for his research with over 157 publications; Shakeel Ahmed Tanoli from Abbottabad for community welfare work; and Dr Shah Khalid from Battagram for his contributions to neurosurgery and healthcare in Hazara.

Adam Khan was also honored for his contributions to arts, while several digital content creators from across KP received Content Creator Awards for promoting regional stories through digital media.

The summit concluded with a shared message — stronger collaboration between universities, government, industry and youth is essential to prepare students for emerging technologies and the changing job market.