ITCN Asia 2025: where AI crossed borders and I nearly got lost in the cloud

Walking through the buzzing halls of Karachi’s Expo Centre, dodging eager exhibitors and the occasional drone demo gone rogue, ITCN Asia 2025 felt less like a tech expo and more like a portal to Pakistan's digital future.

Over 67,000 attendees converged to explore 300+ global brands showcasing innovations in AI, cybersecurity, fintech, and more. Let me tell you, as someone who attended for two days, the hybrid format meant I could dip into virtual sessions when my feet protested. Talk about user-friendly UX.

This 26th edition of the event, themed "AI Beyond Borders," was a whirlwind of innovation, handshakes, and enough AI chatter to make even Siri jealous.

Organized by Ecommerce Gateway Pakistan and backed by the Ministry of IT & Telecom (MoITT), Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), and Universal Service Fund (USF), the event wasn't just about gadgets; it was a testament to how Pakistan is engineering its way into the global tech scene.

Setting the digital tone

The event kicked off with a ribbon-cutting by the Honorable Federal Minister for IT & Telecom, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, who emphasized Pakistan's push for 5G expansion, digital inclusion, and turning our youth bulge into a tech boom. I was right there in the crowd, nodding along as she painted a picture of a cashless economy powered by RAAST, Pakistan's instant payment system.

It was inspiring, though I couldn't help chuckling internally. If only my wallet could go digital as easily as these policies promise, it would be amazing. The inauguration set the tone for three days of summits, roundtables, and exhibits that bridged global delegations with local talent, fostering what could lead to millions in investments, building on last year's $500 million in MoUs.

Innovations that had me geeking out

One innovation that drew plenty of attention was SUPARCO’s Sky Clinic. Billed as a satellite-powered telemedicine solution, it uses PakSat MM1 to connect remote patients with doctors, complete with diagnostic tools and electronic health record integration. On paper, it sounds like a lifeline for rural communities that often lack access to even basic healthcare. Still, the questions hang in the air, much like the satellites themselves. How reliable will the diagnostics be? Who will staff the consultations? And can such a system be scaled affordably in Pakistan’s patchy infrastructure? Satellite bandwidth and equipment maintenance don’t come cheap either, raising doubts about how quickly or widely such clinics can be deployed. Ambitious as it is, Sky Clinic feels like a promising step that will only prove its worth once it’s rolled out in the field, not just on the expo floor.

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Then there was Data Vault Pakistan, flexing their AI-powered data centers, GPU as a Service (GPUaaS), and sovereign cloud solutions, basically, a digital fortress for Pakistan's data sovereignty. Their VR experience was the real curveball had me virtually touring secure infrastructures, and trying out fire drills and walking me through emergency scenarios without so much as leaving the booth. Who knew corporate safety training could feel more like a video game than a lecture?

Viper Technology brought the "power, precision, and performance" vibe with their high-tech gear, while finance folks like Al Meezan Investments at the Pakistan Capital Market Pavilion were all about Shariah-compliant mutual funds for young investors. I chatted with their team about digital wealth-building, and it had me reassessing my own portfolio. Who knew ethical investing could be as thrilling as a crypto bull run, provided the profits are as clean as the conscience.

Munir Khanani Securities drew visitors with its smart trading platforms and digital finance tools, while Microlinks Pvt. Ltd. pitched its future-ready digital solutions. Over at the Diamond Pavilion, Graana.com and Imarat spotlighted Pakistan’s proptech revolution with real estate e-commerce and AI-driven planning systems. Meanwhile, JBL by Ahmed Bawany added a consumer-tech flair, reminding everyone that gadgets, too, are part of everyday innovation.

But the real stars for me were the electrifying startups at Ignite’s National Incubation Centers (NIC) pavilion, which had me scribbling notes like a kid in a candy store. This hotspot buzzed with ideas tackling Pakistan’s toughest challenges, from energy to education.

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I chatted with Sana Khattak of EzGeyzer, whose smart geyser tech optimizes energy use, proving hot water can go high-tech without scalding your wallet with AI-powered geyser controllers, reducing energy costs by 20–40% through smart scheduling

GaragePro’s co-founder Sunail blew me away with their app’s OBD scanners on steroids. They showcased Bluetooth OBD-II scanners, streamlining vehicle diagnostics for over 100 car makes. Their app’s live data and repair guides, presented at the pavilion, make fixes as seamless as a software update, targeting rural and urban mechanics.

NaqshaGPT delivered AI-driven geospatial mapping for urban planning and flood prediction, integrating satellite data. Their interactive map demos drew crowds, highlighting smart-city potential.

NerdFlow offered gamified STEM education, with AI tutors tailoring coding lessons for rural students while Bee Engineering (NIC Quetta) presented agritech drones and sensors for Balochistan’s farms, boosting yields. Their demos emphasized food security, sparking interest in regional job creation. These startups aren’t just coding solutions, they’re igniting Digital Pakistan, pun intended.

Networking vibes and Policy pow-wows

The AI Beyond Borders Summit in Hall 4 was a highlight, with policy roundtables on fintech growth, AI ethics, and sustainable ecosystems. Moderated by P@SHA experts, discussions on RAAST's role in a cashless society had everyone nodding, including me.

Attendees raved about fostering entrepreneurship, exhibitors echoed the sentiment: Data Vault wrapped up with "immense energy" from AI chats, and Al Meezan loved engaging young investors. The social buzz on X was electric, with timelapse videos capturing the chaos – or as I call it, "organized tech frenzy." I even joined a few impromptu huddles, swapping ideas on how AI could fix Karachi's traffic (spoiler: it might need more than algorithms).

Major developments and lasting impacts

Beyond the exhibits, the event spotlighted Pakistan's tech potential: Calls for policy support in AI, connectivity, and fintech to drive employment in the digital economy. USF's EdTech collaborations and SUPARCO's telemedicine push signal real infrastructure wins, while startups like those from Ignite and Saylani hint at a youth-driven surge. Convex Interactive's showcase in cybersecurity and cloud added to the mix, reminding us that innovation isn't just flashy, it’s foundational. And with opportunities for startups to snag funding and networks, as highlighted in pre-event guides, this could be the spark for Pakistan's next unicorns.

Looking ahead, the Lahore edition in January 2026 promises more. But as I left the Expo Centre, feet sore but mind buzzing, I realized ITCN Asia 2025 wasn't just an event, it was a blueprint for #DigitalPakistan. In a world where tech evolves faster than my phone's battery drains, it's refreshing to see our ecosystem not just keeping up, but leading the charge. If AI is beyond borders, then count me in for the next frontier, hopefully with better coffee next time.