On November 18, 2024, Code for Pakistan (CfP) achieved a pivotal milestone in addressing civic challenges with the launch of the Civic Innovator Program. This transformative initiative brings together government, academia, and industry through a tri-party collaboration aligned with the Higher Education Commission's (HEC) requirements for final-year student projects. By equipping students to tackle real-world problems with technology-driven solutions, the program strengthens public service delivery and drives meaningful impact.
Connecting Academia, Industry, and Government
Hosted at Durshal Peshawar, the launch event introduced plans to address over 250 problem statements submitted by government departments. The program enables students to transform these challenges into practical solutions, enhancing public services and fostering innovation. This initiative builds on the success of CfP’s Government Innovation Fellowship Program, developed in partnership with the KP IT Board and World Bank, further bridging the gap between government and citizens.
How the Program Works
The Civic Innovator Program fosters collaboration between government, academia, and industry to solve civic challenges. Partnering with CECOS Peshawar, IMSciences Peshawar, and Iqra National University, the program engages students to tackle six critical problem statements from various government departments.
Key program highlights:
- Tri-Party Collaboration: Aligned with HEC’s requirements for final-year projects, students gain hands-on experience addressing civic challenges.
- Expert Mentorship: Teams of three students are guided by faculty supervisors and mentored by experienced industry professionals.
- Innovative Solutions: From IoT-enabled waste management to interactive AR tools for public spaces, students tackle challenges using cutting-edge technology.
This initiative empowers students to turn challenges into opportunities, strengthens academia-public sector connections, and prepares a new generation of civic innovators.
Highlights from the Launch
“The Civic Innovator Program showcases what we can achieve when government, industry, and academia collaborate,” said Shaji Ahmed, CEO of Code for Pakistan. “This initiative empowers students to design innovative solutions while strengthening public services. Governments need to focus on defining challenges—not prescribing solutions—through user research.”
The launch event featured insights from a distinguished panel of speakers, including:
- Syed Mazhar Ali Shah, Additional Secretary, Higher Education Department KP
- Dr. Usman Ghani, Vice-Chancellor, IMSciences
- Dr. Akif Khan, Managing Director, KP IT Board
- Dr. Taza Gul, Director General, Science and Technology
- Asim Ishaq, Director, NIC Peshawar
Key takeaways included:
- Dr. Usman Ghani emphasized fostering active collaboration between academia and industry to drive meaningful innovation.
- Dr. Taza Gul highlighted the importance of career counseling, proposal writing, and idea generation for students beyond academics.
- Dr. Akif Khan encouraged 7th-semester students to join the KP JoinIT portal, unlocking opportunities in freelancing, civic solutions, and industry roles.
Mentors Guiding Innovation
A diverse team of mentors will be providing students with technical guidance and strategic direction in the current cohort:
- Ali Raza, Technical Lead, Trident Marketing
- Qarib Kazmi, Manager Software Development, Bentley Systems
- Shaji Ahmed, Principal Engineer, AlphaX Decision Sciences
- Ashar Bazaib Saeed, CEO, KytherTek
- Mubassir Hayat, Manager Technology, Code for Pakistan
- Shazaib Siddiq, Program Coordinator, Code for Pakistan
Be Part of the Change
The Civic Innovator Program is redefining how government, academia, and industry collaborate to improve public services in Pakistan.
Are you a government department with civic challenges? Or a university ready to equip the next generation of innovators?
Join the next cohort and take part in addressing civic challenges in your city!
Email us at innovator@codeforpakistan.org to get involved.