We often hear about the “potential” of Pakistan’s IT sector. But potential is just a word until you prove it on the global stage. This week, in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Pakistan didn’t just show up; it dominated. At the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards 2025—often called the “Oscars of the Asian IT industry”—the Pakistani delegation walked away with 7 major honours, beating out stiff competition from tech giants like Hong Kong, Australia, and Singapore.
This is not a small win. It is the clearest signal yet that “Digital Pakistan” is moving from a slogan to a reality. Here is the breakdown of who won and why it matters.
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1. The Historic Win: KPITB’s ‘Dastak’ App
The biggest headline of the night belongs to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board (KPITB).
Their ‘Dastak‘ app secured the Winner Award in the Public Sector & Government category.
- Why this is huge: This is the first time in 14 years that Pakistan has won Gold in the Government category. Dastak, which brings government services (like domicile and birth certificates) to your doorstep via a “facilitator” model, beat 13 other economies to take the top spot. It proves that our local digital governance solutions are now world-class.
2. The Student Stars: GeoGemma (IST)
The future is safe. The team from the Institute of Space Technology (IST), creators of GeoGemma, pulled off a stunning double victory.
- They won the Winner Award in the Tertiary Student category.
- They also bagged the People’s Choice Award, proving their project resonated with the global audience, not just the judges.
3. The Runners-Up (The Depth of Talent)
It wasn’t just about two trophies. The depth of the Pakistani delegation (the largest ever sent by P@SHA) was on full display with several Runner-Up Merit awards:
- Sense Guard (Fazaia Inter College Jinnah Camp) – Proving innovation starts at the school level.
- Osteoscreen (NUST) – A health-tech solution for bone health.
- ALEF (Dynasys Networks) – Winning in both Business Services and IoT categories.
- Faceoff (Unikrew Solutions) – Recognized in the Consumer Application category.
Why Does This Matter to You?
You might ask, “How does an award in Taiwan help me?”
It helps because perception creates economy. When global investors see Pakistan winning against tech heavyweights in Taiwan, the “high-risk” tag starts to fade. It brings investment, it brings jobs, and it brings respect.
P@SHA Chairman Sajjad Mustafa Syed led this delegation with a clear mission: to show the world that Pakistan is open for digital business. Mission accomplished.
Congratulations to KPITB, IST, and all the winners. You have made the green flag fly high.
What do you think of the Dastak app’s win? Have you used it in KP? Let us know in the comments!