In a proud moment for Pakistan’s academic and technological community, a middle-school team from Pak-Turk Maarif International Schools and Colleges clinched first prize in the Social Innovation category at TEKNOFEST 2025, held from May 1–4 in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
This year’s edition of TEKNOFEST, known as the world’s largest aviation, space, and technology festival, brought together 225,000 visitors over four days at the historic Old Ercan Airport in Lefkoşa, offering an immersive showcase of cutting-edge innovations and youth-driven technological advancements.
Winning Team and project
Representing Pakistan with distinction, Asma Fatima and Inaya Khan, under the guidance of their teacher Ms. Gohar Khursheed, presented their groundbreaking project titled “Emotion Detector Gadget for Quadriplegics” at TÜBİTAK Social Innovation Competition (Middle School Category).
The device aims to help linguistically paralyzed individuals communicate their emotions, filling a crucial gap in assistive technology.
“My experience at TEKNOFEST was phenomenal. There were so many brilliant projects, and the competition was fierce,” Inaya told Dawn newspaper while reflecting on the journey. “All the challenges, the moments we thought we’d never get through, were all worth it. This is a huge win for us, for our team, school and for our country.”
Their teacher, Ms. Gohar, added: “It’s a reminder that with hard work, determination, and a little bit of innovation, anything is possible.”
Recognition on the global stage
The young innovators were among 268 finalist teams and 1,083 competitors from six countries, selected from a staggering 47,000 applicants across 22 nations.
Their victory was celebrated during an official award ceremony where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan personally presented the top prize. President Erdoğan’s attendance on the third day of the festival was a symbolic highlight.
Emphasizing the shared aspirations of Türkiye and its partners, he remarked: “This festival is not just an event, but a determined step taken by one nation, two states, and one heart towards their common future.”
TEKNOFEST: A launchpad for the future
Organized in partnership with Türkiye’s key national technology institutions, TEKNOFEST aims to foster scientific talent and innovation among youth. The 2025 edition featured competitions in 6 main categories and 13 subcategories, including the Flying Car Simulation and the Robolig Blue Homeland Competition.
Previously hosted in major Turkish cities including Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, last year’s TEKNOFEST attracted over 1 million participants from 96 countries—an indicator of its global reach and growing influence in tech education.
Proud Moment for Pakistan
The school’s official statement on Instagram declared: “A Historic Milestone! Our brilliant Maarif Scientist 25 team—Asma Fatima and Inaya Khan, guided by Ms. Gohar Khursheed—had the honor of meeting the President of Türkiye, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as they received 1st place at TEKNOFEST 2025!”
This accomplishment follows another milestone for Pakistani students, who won three bronze medals at the 54th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) in Isfahan, Iran, in 2024. These consecutive achievements underscore Pakistan’s growing footprint in global STEM competitions and youth innovation platforms.
With innovation at its core and regional collaboration gaining momentum, TEKNOFEST continues to serve as a vital platform for emerging talent. As Pakistan’s young minds step confidently into the global spotlight, their contributions signal not only national pride but also a hopeful vision for technological empowerment across Asia and the Middle East.