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.
Partners
Confirmed brands from this edition. Pakistani and regional partners will keep joining this row as stands are approved.
1st
Flagship edition
1
Day agenda
Lahore
Host city
2026
Annual brand
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
Enter
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.
Lahore, Pakistan
The first edition has closed. Thank you for being part of the room in Lahore.
Programme
A single timed run of show — sessions, conversations, and labs in order, with what you take from each block.
2:00 – 3:00 PM
Attendee entry, registration, guest reception, networking and short pre-event interviews.
3:00 – 3:02 PM
Official opening and welcome to Tech Skills Summit 2026.
3:02 – 3:07 PM
Opening recitation of the Holy Quran.
3:07 – 3:09 PM
A brief introduction to the summit and an overview of the event program.
3:09 – 3:13 PM
Opening note by Muhammed Yaqoob, Provost, University of Central Punjab, on the vision and purpose of the summit.
3:13 – 3:16 PM
A short message on building professional visibility, credibility and a strong personal brand alongside practical skills.
3:16 – 3:31 PM
Muhammad Waqas, Founder & CEO of Dafi Labs, shares how AI is changing technology, careers and product building, and why adaptability matters.
3:31 – 3:56 PM
A practical discussion on idea validation, product development, go-to-market strategy, customer acquisition, fundraising and scaling.
3:56 – 4:00 PM
A short interactive audience challenge based on the ideas discussed during the first panel.
4:00 – 4:12 PM
Prof. Dr. Khalid Mahmood shares practical perspectives on education, self-learning, adaptability and preparing students for a rapidly changing future.
4:12 – 4:42 PM
A discussion on modern software development, AI-powered marketing, cybersecurity, freelancing, client acquisition and emerging technology opportunities.
4:42 – 4:46 PM
A rapid audience interaction and technology Q&A session.
4:46 – 4:48 PM
A short collaboration video featuring ProMaker and Emra Skills.
4:48 – 4:57 PM
Mustansar Riaz discusses modern cybersecurity risks, AI-generated code, application and API security, cloud security and secure-by-design development.
4:57 – 5:27 PM
A discussion between academia, industry, HR and students on career readiness, hiring challenges and practical ways to reduce the skills gap.
5:27 – 5:31 PM
A short video highlighting the internship program impact and how EmpRadar supported recruitment and internship workflows at scale.
5:31 – 5:51 PM
The top five student project finalists present their solutions, technologies and real-world problem-solving approaches.
5:51 – 5:53 PM
Judges finalize the competition results while the hosts keep the audience engaged.
5:53 – 5:58 PM
Recognition of competition winners, finalists and contributors to Tech Skills Summit 2026.
5:58 – 6:00 PM
Final reflections, acknowledgements and closing message for Tech Skills Summit 2026.
Voices
Selected voices from this edition — Pakistan and the region. The full lineup lives on the agenda.
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
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.
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 1
Zain Farooq is a fintech entrepreneur and Managing Director at Barq PK, with extensive experience in building, scaling, and funding technology ventures. He previously founded and led MyTM, where he successfully raised multimillion-dollar investment from local and international investors. His journey across fintech, startup growth, regulatory engagement, and investor relations gives him a practical understanding of what makes a business investment-ready. At Tech Skills Summit 2026, he joins Panel Discussion 1 to share insights on fundraising, investor expectations, pitching, and building startups that can attract capital.
Panelist
Digital Marketing in the AI Era: GEO, AEO, Automation & Growth
Obaid Arshad is a serial entrepreneur, award-winning SaaS innovator, and e-commerce veteran. He is the CEO & Founder of Ginkgo Retail & Comverse and Founder of Zentri by Ginkgo Retail, where he focuses on building AI-driven e-commerce and digital business solutions. With extensive experience in SaaS, entrepreneurship, team building, and technology-enabled growth, he brings valuable insight into how AI, automation, and modern digital strategies are reshaping e-commerce, marketing, and business innovation.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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 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.
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.
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
Founder and CEO · Codecoy Technologies
Prefer a quieter introduction? Contact the programme team.
Edition complete
The first edition is done. Thank you to everyone who showed up — visitors, partners, speakers, and the team who made the room in Lahore.
Keynotes
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
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
I’m Asad Ali. I’m a Software Engineering graduate with practical experience in full-stack development, especially the MERN stack. Recently, I’ve been focusing more on AI, automation, and Agentic AI because I’m really interested in how these technologies can solve real-world problems. I enjoy building projects, learning by doing, and continuously improving my skills.
S Software Engineering student at ITU Lahore with experience in AI/ML, software development, and LLM-based applications. Skilled in building practical AI solutions, full-stack applications, and automation systems. Passionate about learning emerging technologies and developing impactful software solutions.
Building this with us? Write to the team.