Asad and Zheela started a civic hackathon to brainstorm solutions that would help the Pakistani diaspora connect back home and develop products and solutions to Pakistan’s most pressing problems. What started as a small hackathon has created a multiplier effect that has mobilized 45 universities in Pakistan, many universities abroad, students in five countries, 15 cities, five host countries and 1,000+ global participants.
Azhar Rizvi’s Comments
Pakathon is Asad and Zheela’s story. I regard these two as my own children. I met them in 2013 in Silicon Valley at OPEN Charter Members Retreat. They were pitching for funding at a three-day hackathon for Harvard, MIT, Boston University and Tuft students in Boston. I could clearly see the merit of their ambitious initiative, provided it got Pakistani students and academics involved. The two hijacked me against my will to join them in the fantastic idea of mobilizing the diaspora to create social ventures.
Pakathon is building a platform to address social issues in Pakistan by engaging the diaspora and local talent. It is an effort to reverse the brain drain and get Pakistani youth around the world engaged in solving local issues and help build a great country. Working with them and watching Pakathon grow has been a great journey of over three years. Currently the fourth Pakathon is in process.
Because of the time zone differences , Asad and Zheela in USA and me in Pakistan, they usually call me after midnight, and never apologize. They consider it their right, which I have now accepted. As a cofounder of Pakathon, I request you all to visit our website and join us in any capacity you can, as a trainer, expert, advisor, donor, or even design a role for yourself. We welcome everyone who may be willing to contribute to our movement and help build Pakistan.
Story of Pakathon
An estimated eight million Pakistanis live overseas and approximately 10,000 students leave Pakistan each year to study abroad. These people create immense value and respect for Pakistan globally, both as part of the diaspora and when they return to their homeland. However, despite this contribution, a number of these people are torn between serving their adopted country and yearning to fix the problems of their native country.
Asad, Zheela and Azhar Rizvi started an organization to reverse the brain drain from Pakistan. In a short period of three years since Pakathon’s inception, the network has grown manifold. A small organization has created a multiplier effect mobilizing more than 45 universities in Pakistan, several universities abroad, numerous students in five countries, 15 cities, five host countries and 1,000+ global participants. Many of the contestants have since started work on their social ventures. The chapters themselves have hosted hundreds of events to connect, motivate and mobilize participants into creating the Pakistan of their dreams.
Read How Pakathon evolved for a primary platform that mobilises Pakistani diaspora to solve civic problems of Pakistan,
