A nationwide programme is bringing free robotics and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) training to young people across Pakistan, with organisers aiming to reach 10,000 learners and 300 teachers.
What happened?
The Pakistan Innovation Quest (PIQ), run by the Pi Space Science Education Centre (PSSEC) in partnership with the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) Association and powered by Aramco, is expanding access to hands-on robotics learning for students who are often excluded by cost, distance, gender or disability. The programme was reported on November 4, 2026.
Key details
- The programme aims to reach 10,000 learners and 300 teachers through more than 60 RoboStarter Sprints, six regional competitions and a National Showcase.
- It has already trained more than 6,000 learners and 518 teachers in Karachi, Lahore, Hyderabad, Gujranwala and Kasur, with around 60 institutions joining its network.
- Training is offered free in public and private schools, girls’ schools, low-income communities and institutions supported by non-governmental organisations.
- The RoboStarter Sprints combine practical robotics training with the WRO Future Innovators project cycle, in which students design solutions to real-world problems.
- The programme is aiming for more than 40 percent female participation, and training has included deaf students in Karachi.
- The initiative is funded through Aramco’s Global STEM Education Program.
What it means for people in Pakistan
For students in smaller cities and low-income communities, the programme offers a rare chance to learn robotics and problem-solving by building real projects rather than only studying theory. For schools, the free sprints and competitions provide a low-cost route into STEM activities, and for the wider technology sector, it widens the pool of young people with practical engineering experience.
