22/05/2026
Mansehra: Nexus Pakistan 2026, the largest technology and youth festival in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s history, successfully concludes
MANSEHRA: Nexus Pakistan 2026, celebrated as the largest and most unique technology and youth festival in the history of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, successfully concluded at Hazara University. The two-day mega-event, held on May 20–21, converged over 5,000 students, young professionals, researchers, tech experts, corporate leaders, and academic representatives.
The grand festival was hosted by Hazara University Mansehra and supported by the District Youth Office Mansehra, under the joint patronage of the Directorate of Youth Affairs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the District Administration Mansehra.
The event was spearheaded by Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ikramullah Khan Marwat, alongside District Youth Officer Mr. Usman Saeed, who served as the Chairman and Co-Patron of Nexus Pakistan. The foundational driving force behind the initiative includes co-founders Syeda Fatima Batool, Nadir Khan Swati, and Muawiya Qureshi.
The opening ceremony commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran and the National Anthem, attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Mansehra Mr. Asad Mahmood Lodhi, the Assistant Commissioner of Baffa Pakhal, and Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ikramullah Khan Marwat. In their respective addresses, Mr. Usman Saeed presented the opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor welcomed the delegates, and Mr. Lodhi commended the pivotal role of youth in driving national development.
A major highlight of the launch was the unveiling of the pilot project, “Youth as Agents of Change,” presented by Syeda Fatima Batool and Nadir Khan Swati, which was followed by an official oath-taking ceremony for executive members and team leaders.
The plenary sessions featured a lineup of distinguished speakers. Renowned civil servant Dr. Sassi Malik Sher delivered an inspiring power talk on youth leadership and mindset development. Professor Barrister Dr. Anwar Baig Khan of Bahria University Law School, Islamabad, spoke on human rights, while Dr. Rao Muhammad Rashid, Senior Associate Professor at Bahria Business School, unpacked the ethical dimensions of Artificial Intelligence in academic research.
Career pathways and technical horizons were also explored; Mr. Armaghan Tufail, Provincial Representative of OGDCL, highlighted emerging opportunities in the energy sector, while a panel discussion on the intersection of SDGs and AI was moderated by Dania Malik, featuring panelists Advocate Muhammad Shaheer, Muhammad Asif Javed, and climate activist Ali Imran.
The cultural and digital skill segments saw celebrated poet and National Artist Hajra Anwar enthrall the audience with her poetry, followed by an intensive, practical digital skills and freelancing training session led by ecosystem veteran Hisham Sarwar. Further career development insights were shared by Dr. Muhammad Bilal and Mr. Shiraz.
The second day focused sharply on emerging frontiers. Ahmed Manzoor, CEO of the Blockchain Institute, led a masterclass on blockchain technologies, while Meerab Awan, Head of HR at Vero Mind, analyzed current market demands and critical skill gaps among graduates.
The closing ceremony welcomed Mr. Kamal Saleem Khan Swati, Vice President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as the Chief Guest, alongside candidate for Provincial Assembly Munir Laghmani.
Corporate and strategic tech insights were presented by Mr. Ahmed from Huawei, who discussed industry trends, followed by a specialized panel on “Artificial Intelligence and Warfare,” featuring Malik Qasim Mustafa Khokhar—who also launched his new book during the segment—and retired Squadron Leader Shahbaz Hassan, with Ikramullah moderating. Keynote addresses on entrepreneurship and the digital economy were also delivered by Ali Naqi, Country Lead of Google Developer Groups, and Irfan Malik, CEO of Xeven Solutions.
Parallel to the main auditorium events, five specialized technical workshops were conducted, covering Flutter Application Development, Cybersecurity, Google Developer Groups, and SDGs under the Skillistan initiative, concluding with certificate distributions for the massive student cohort.
Simultaneously, a massive industrial and academic exhibition allowed companies, universities, and young innovators to showcase pioneering research and startup ideas. Active participation was witnessed from Hazara University, Abbottabad University of Science and Technology, Abdul Wali Khan University, Ibadat University Islamabad, and Bahria University Islamabad, alongside various government colleges.
The festival also assumed an international profile with global delegates sharing cross-cultural experiences and international opportunities with the youth. The event wrapped up with a high-profile networking dinner attended by the Vice Chancellor, corporate leaders including CEO Irfan Malik, and other distinguished dignitaries.
During the final valedictory session, honorary souvenirs and performance certificates were presented to the speakers, organizers, and youth volunteers. Delivering the vote of thanks, District Youth Officer Mr. Usman Saeed lauded the exceptional talent of the participants and celebrated the landmark success of the festival, noting that Nexus Pakistan 2026 has effectively ushered in a new era of technology, leadership, and youth empowerment across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Sports & Youth Affairs Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Deputy Commissioner Mansehra
Directorate of Youth Affairs KP
02/06/2026
22/05/2026
22/05/2026