STAFF REPORT PESH: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa IT Board (KPITB), Tech Valley Abbottabad, Code for Pakistan, World Bank and PTA has hosted a Demo Day for the KP Apps Challenge in Peshawar.
Youngsters from all over Pakistan were invited to participate in the challenge, which was judged by a panel of experts. Total cash prizes of up to Rs 0.6 million were also announced.
Submissions of note included Karigar – a mobile app that connects vocational tradesmen such as carpenters and plumbers to potential employers; Ikhtiyar – an integrated website platform for lodging complaints to government; Rescue 1122 – a mobile app for government emergency services; and Blood Bank – an app that connects blood donors to those in need of blood, depending on their location.
As many as 42 teams submitted their apps to compete for prizes in civic, governance, health and mobile categories. Seventeen of these were short-listed and presented a small demonstration of their app at the event.
The judges, including PTA Coordination DG, KPITB projects director and World Bank representatives asked probing questions to decide which teams had the most potential.