01What's new
Introduce
Bring the latest technologies of this era into Pakistani rooms — AI, cloud, security, data, product, and the tools people are already being asked to use at work.
Mission
Tech Skills Summit exists to introduce the latest skills in Pakistan, help institutes teach them, and give students the confidence to ship with them. The floor, the stage, and the labs are built around that purpose.
01What's new
Bring the latest technologies of this era into Pakistani rooms — AI, cloud, security, data, product, and the tools people are already being asked to use at work.
02What it means
Honest rooms for practitioners, founders, educators, and employers. Technology as a live question, not a product pitch — how this era actually lands in organisations here.
03How to use it
A sequenced agenda, skills labs, and a careers programme so students, educators, and practitioners leave able to teach, hire, and ship with what they just met — not only having heard about it.
Enter
1st
Flagship edition
1
Day agenda
Lahore
Host city
2026
Annual brand
Lahore, Pakistan
Tech Skills Summit 2026 — the public room for closing Pakistan’s academia–industry skills gap. Visitors, institutes, exhibitors, and speakers, in Lahore · 12 Sept 2026 · 2:00 – 6:00 PM.
What’s TSS?
Tech Skills Summit exists to close the gap between academia and industry — introducing new tech skills in Lahore for students, educators, practitioners, and employers.
Host city
Lahore, Pakistan
12 Sept 2026 · 2:00 – 6:00 PM
The brief
Industry is hiring for skills many campuses still do not teach. TSS exists to close that distance — in public.
Who it’s for
Universities, colleges, and students learning what workplaces already use — from first semester to first job.
Programme
A timed run of show for one summit day — sessions and labs you can take back to a classroom, a campus, or a company.
The edition
The first public chapter of this mission — for educators, students, practitioners, and employers across Pakistan.
The energy
The first edition is being built in Lahore — for students, educators, and the people already shipping and hiring across Pakistan. Stages, labs, and a floor that feels like our own flagship.
Main stage
Labs
Workshops
Community
Host city
A city of universities, software houses, and a rising tech workforce. TSS plants a world-class skills summit in Lahore — not as a local meetup, as Pakistan’s annual brand on the same calendar as the region’s flagship gatherings.
Registration open
Industry is hiring for skills many campuses still don’t teach. This summit is where Pakistan closes that gap.
Keynotes
Programme
A single timed run of show — sessions, conversations, and labs in order, with what you take from each block.
3:00 – 3:05 PM
The summit begins with the recitation of the Holy Quran, setting a respectful and meaningful tone for the event.
3:05 – 3:12 PM
The host welcomes attendees, distinguished guests, speakers, industry representatives, students and partners and briefly introduces the purpose of Tech Skills Summit 2026 and the program ahead.
Voices
Selected voices from this edition — Pakistan and the region. The full lineup lives on the agenda.
Panelist
Dr. Hammad Naveed is the Pro-Rector at the University of Central Punjab with experience across academia, AI, engineering leadership, and entrepreneurship. He has previously worked with Soliton Technologies and FAST-NUCES, and is also the Co-founder of Amal and Founder of Tib.ai.
AI Is Changing the Game, Are You Changing With It?
Keynote Speaker & Organizer
Muhammad Waqas is the Founder & CEO of Dafi Labs, Founder of EmpRadar.ai, and Organizer of Tech Skills Summit 2026. With over 11 years of experience across software engineering, SaaS, blockchain, Web3, cloud technologies, AI, and product development, his career has evolved alongside major shifts in technology. At Tech Skills Summit 2026, he will share practical lessons from his journey and explore how students, developers, and professionals can adapt, build real products, and stay relevant in an AI-driven future.
Panelist
Cybersecurity & Cloud Skills for 2026 — What Tech Professionals Need to Know
Hafiz Ali Mansoor Elahi is an IT leader, cybersecurity and information security professional, and Founder & Lead Instructor at ProMaker Institute. He also serves as IT Head at Industrad Engineering, with expertise spanning cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, GRC, IT operations, business automation, and digital transformation. An active trainer and guest lecturer, he regularly shares practical industry knowledge with students and professionals. At Tech Skills Summit 2026, he joins Panel Discussion 2 to discuss the cybersecurity, cloud, and technology skills professionals should develop for the evolving tech landscape.
The team
The organising team behind Tech Skills Summit — the people putting the first edition on in Lahore.
Muhammad Waqas is a technology entrepreneur and leader with more than 12 years of experience in software engineering, product development, emerging technologies, and building technology-driven businesses. He is the Founder & CEO of DaFi Labs and Founder of EmpRadar AI, with a strong focus on creating platforms, programs, and opportunities that connect technology, talent, and industry. Through his leadership, he works to bridge the gap between education and real-world industry requirements by promoting practical skills, innovation, entrepreneurship, and future-ready careers.
Functional Lead
Partnerships Manager
3:12 – 3:22 PM
A special address by Muhammad Waqas introducing the vision behind Tech Skills Summit, the need to bridge the gap between academia and industry, and how practical technology skills can create better opportunities for Pakistan's next generation.
3:22 – 3:27 PM
A five-minute visual story showcasing the recent internship program, participating students, learning experiences, practical sessions, achievements and the journey from learning new skills to building real-world projects.
3:27 – 3:39 PM
An industry leader shares insights on emerging technologies, changing skill requirements and what students and young professionals should learn today to remain relevant in the future.
3:39 – 4:04 PM
Industry leaders, educators and technology professionals discuss the skills gap between traditional education and modern workplaces, what employers actually expect and how academia and industry can work together to prepare future talent.
4:04 – 4:12 PM
A fast-paced interactive activity involving the audience through technology questions, live polls or a rapid-fire challenge. Selected participants and winners receive special Tech Skills Summit goodie bags.
4:12 – 4:32 PM
Selected participants showcase real projects developed during the internship program across areas such as AI, software development, cloud and DevOps, blockchain, automation and other emerging technologies.
4:32 – 4:44 PM
A guest speaker shares practical insights into turning technical knowledge into employment, freelancing, entrepreneurship and real-world career opportunities.
4:44 – 5:09 PM
A forward-looking discussion on artificial intelligence, automation, modern careers and the changing technology landscape. Panelists explore which skills will matter most, how jobs are changing and how students and professionals can prepare for opportunities that may not exist today.
5:09 – 5:17 PM
A second short interactive activity designed to refresh and energize the room. Participants can take part in a live technology quiz, challenge or audience competition, with goodie bags and partner prizes presented to selected winners.
5:17 – 5:29 PM
A final inspirational industry perspective focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership and the opportunities available to young people who continuously learn, build and adapt.
5:29 – 5:42 PM
A special recognition segment celebrating outstanding students, selected internship projects, mentors, volunteers, partners and individuals who contributed to the internship program and Tech Skills Summit 2026.
5:42 – 5:52 PM
Closing reflections on the summit, appreciation for guests, speakers, partners, volunteers and attendees, followed by a call to continue learning, building and creating opportunities beyond the event. Empowering Skills. Building Futures.
5:52 – 6:00 PM
Speakers, guests, participants, volunteers and the organizing team come together for the official Tech Skills Summit 2026 photographs, followed by the transition into networking, project interaction and informal conversations.
Artificial Intelligence
Muhammad Mustanser Hussain is the Founder and CEO of ATechSole and ATechSkills, with over a decade of experience in cybersecurity, AI, automation and digital transformation. He has advised organizations and government departments, trained professionals and supported more than 120 brands in adopting technology securely. His expertise includes cybersecurity strategy, Agentic AI red teaming, Zero Trust, AI governance, risk management and secure digital transformation.
Host
Why Your Personal Brand Matters More Than Your Resume
Zainab Ashfaq is a GTM and strategic growth professional with experience across business development, marketing, operations, and product. Her work focuses on helping businesses build, position, and grow by connecting strategy with technology and market needs. At Tech Skills Summit 2026, she will join as one of the event hosts.
Panelist
Bridging the Academia–Industry Talent Gap
Aqsa Durrani is an experienced Human Resources leader with 13+ years of professional experience, including more than six years in HR, technical recruitment, and people excellence. She leads People & Culture for a fast-growing technology organization, with expertise in talent acquisition, workforce planning, performance management, employee engagement, organizational development, and employer branding. She is passionate about building people-first workplaces and aligning talent with business needs. Aksa also embraces AI-powered tools and recruitment automation to improve hiring, HR operations, employee experience, and data-driven decision-making.
Panelist
From Idea to Market
Jamshaid Rashid is the Founder & CEO of RideMate, a Pakistani mobility-tech startup focused on making daily commuting more affordable and efficient through carpooling and shared mobility. Previously, he worked at oladoc as Senior Manager – Accounts, Customer Engagement & Business Intelligence, contributing to the growth of a healthcare technology platform serving 25,000+ doctors. His journey from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship gives him practical experience in product building, customer growth, business intelligence, and solving real-world problems through technology.
Host
Muhammad Arsalan Asim is a young business and technology professional with experience in business development, event management, and community engagement. Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Business & Information Technology at the University of the Punjab, he has actively contributed to university societies, professional initiatives, and industry-focused activities. With his energetic communication style and passion for connecting people, Arsalan joins Tech Skills Summit 2026 as a Host.
Co-Founder · Senden Evo
Co-host
Co-Host & Panel 1 Moderator
Faizan Azeem is an event management and operations professional with hands-on experience in event planning, logistics, coordination, and audience engagement. He has contributed to professional and university-led events, working across event execution, backstage management, and attendee experience. At Tech Skills Summit 2026, Faizan serves as Co-Host and Moderator of Panel 1, helping lead the discussion around taking ideas from concept to market.
CEO · Dream Crafters
Panelist
Tech Skills & Tools for 2026
Salman Dayal is a technology professional and Head of Engineering at Tallysis, with hands-on experience across full-stack development, blockchain, Web3, and modern software engineering. His work across emerging technologies gives him a practical perspective on how development tools, workflows, and technical skills are evolving. At Tech Skills Summit 2026, he joins Panel Discussion 2 to share insights on the technologies, tools, and skills developers should focus on for 2026 and beyond.
Panelist
Panel Discussion 1
Abid Nazir is a seasoned IT leader with nearly three decades of experience in technology management, software development, enterprise systems, DevOps, and data-driven solutions. At Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, he has contributed to building and managing technology teams and large-scale IT systems. At Tech Skills Summit 2026, he joins Panel Discussion 1 to share practical insights on turning ideas into reliable, scalable, and production-ready technology.
Head Software Development · Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital
Panelist
Panel Discussion 1
Naveed Sarwar is a business development and enterprise sales professional with more than two decades of commercial experience across technology, consulting, and cybersecurity. His expertise spans strategic partnerships, enterprise sales, market development, negotiation, and business growth. At Tech Skills Summit 2026, he joins Panel Discussion 1 to share practical insights on go-to-market strategy, positioning, customer acquisition, and turning a strong product into a commercially successful business.
Panelist
Panel Discussion 3
Alishba Noor is a recent Software Engineering graduate from the University of Central Punjab and a Graduate Trainee at Manafa Technologies. Alongside strong academics, she has remained actively involved in student communities, technical initiatives, and practical projects throughout her university journey. At Tech Skills Summit 2026, Alishba joins Panel Discussion 3 as a Student Voice, sharing a fresh graduate’s perspective on the transition from university to industry, the challenges students face, and what can better prepare them for professional careers.
Prefer a quieter introduction? Contact the programme team.
Software Quality Assurance enthusiast and recent graduate in computer science from PUCIT. Skilled in software testing methodologies, test case design, and agile workflows. Passionate about ensuring high product reliability, attention to detail, and seamless digital experiences.
Organising team
Organising team
Social Media Marketing Strategist | B2B SEO Writing Specialist
Organising team
I’m a passionate Web & Software Developer focused on building modern, scalable, and user-friendly digital solutions. I develop responsive websites, mobile and desktop applications, and Chrome extensions, while also leveraging AI to create intelligent AI agents and innovative automation solutions.
Organising team
Marketing Manager
Building this with us? Write to the team.