In a proud moment for Pakistan, a team of middle school students has won first prize. They secured the top position in the Social Innovation category at Teknofest 2025.
Teknofest is one of the world’s largest aerospace and technology festivals. This year’s event was held in Northern Cyprus (Türkiye).
The winning innovation, titled “Emotion Detector Gadget for Quadriplegic“, was developed by students Asma Fatima and Inaya Khan, under the guidance of their teacher, Gohar Khursheed.
The gadget is designed to assist individuals who are linguistically paralysed and unable to speak or move. It works by detecting their emotions. Also, it aims to enhance emotional expression, communication, and mental well-being for people suffering from such severe disabilities.
Competing Against Global Talent
This year, Teknofest drew a staggering number of applications, over 47,000 from 22 countries. From this pool, 268 teams and 1,083 competitors from six countries were selected as finalists. The Pakistani team’s project stood out among the fierce competition.
Celebrating their achievement, Inaya shared her excitement in an interview, saying,
“My experience at Teknofest was phenomenal. We gave our hearts to the project, and it paid off. All the challenges we had were worth it. This win is for our team, our school, and for Pakistan.“
Their teacher, Gohar, highlighted the impact of their success, stating,
“This victory proves that hard work and innovation can achieve anything.”
He explained that the invention was created specifically to support those who struggle to express their emotions due to paralysis.
The students’ efforts were not only acknowledged by the jury but also earned them the honour of meeting Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan, who personally awarded them at the ceremony. The announcement was proudly shared by Pak-Turk Maarif International Schools and Colleges on social media.
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Teknofest, Türkiye’s premier aerospace and tech event, showcases student-led innovations that aim to solve real-world problems. It is also backed by major institutions contributing to the country’s technological progress.
In previous years, the event was hosted across Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. As a result, it attracted over a million participants from 96 countries.
This victory is yet another testament to Pakistan’s growing presence in international STEM arenas. It also follows the country’s earlier success at the 54th International Physics Olympiad in Iran, where Pakistani students bagged three bronze medals.
As Inaya reflected, “We’re not just celebrating a victory; we’re celebrating the power of innovation and the impact we can make on Pakistan’s young generation.”
