The 9th Women Tech Quest (WTQ) highlighted Pakistan’s women in tech in Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore. Hosted by 10Pearls University, the event was both a competition and a networking opportunity fest, empowering women invested in the IT and e-commerce space.
The National Aerospace Science & Technology Park (NASTP) in Karachi, the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) in Islamabad, and University of Central Punjab (UCP) in Lahore each hosted events. After the coding, designing, and testing challenges, industry leaders took to the stage. Dawlance’s Hira Khalil spoke of Pakistan’s growing e-commerce as an opportunity for women to cash in. Sohail Zindani, the lone male speaker, encouraged women to lead as themselves rather than “as a man”.
Sehat Kahani’s Dr.Sara Saeed Khurram pointed out Pakistan’s mental health crisis—only 500 psychologists for over 240 million people—but also showcased how telehealth is bridging the gap. Meanwhile, Feroze1888 Mills Ltd ’s Javeria Siddiqui gave a crash course in financial independence, discussing savings, smart spending, and multiple income streams.
Winners across categories won cash prizes, but as Peracha Ventures CEO Sarah Peracha put it: everyone who stepped up to compete was already a winner.