Pakistani students win international tech competition with device for paralyzed patients

Students from a Pakistani secondary school won the first place Saturday in an international technology competition in Northern Cyprus, developing a device to help paralyzed people communicate their emotions, school officials announced Sunday.

Asma Fatima and Inaya Khan, middle school students at Pak-Turk Maarif International School in Lahore, created the "emotion detector gadget" for quadriplegic patients for TEKNOFEST 2025's TÜBİTAK Social Innovation Competition.

Teacher Gohar Khursheed, students Inaya Khan and Asma Fatima, and Turkish Maarif Foundation President Mahmut Ozdil next to their competition display at TEKNOFEST 2025.Courtesy: Pak-Turk Maarif International

"While presenting in front of prestigious jury, and then hearing our name announced it was surreal," science teacher and team advisor Gohar Khursheed told Nukta.

The students met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday to receive their award.

The device aims to help people with quadriplegia -- paralysis affecting all four limbs -- express emotions that would otherwise remain locked inside.

Throughout the competition, the team received strong support from the Turkish Maarif Foundation, a distinguished educational institution operating in 56 countries worldwide and represented in Pakistan by Pak-Turk Maarif International Schools and Colleges, Khursheed said.

Pak-Turk Maarif schools, established in 1995 through a bilateral agreement between the countries, operate 28 campuses across major Pakistani cities, serving approximately 13,000 students with instruction in English, Turkish and Urdu.

"We poured our hearts into this, and it paid off," Khursheed said. "All the challenges and moments we thought we'd never get through were worth it."

The team received 60,000 Turkish lira (approximately USD 2,100) as their prize.

Pakistani students Inaya Khan Asma Fatima with their teacher Gohar Khursheed (center) display their medals and awards after winning first place in Northern Cyprus's TEKNOFEST 2025 competition.Courtesy: Pak-Turk Maarif International

TEKNOFEST, now in its seventh year, attracts over 1 million participants annually across categories including aerospace, robotics and social innovation. The competition evaluates projects on technical merit and real-world impact.

"This is a huge win for us, for our team, school and for our country," Khursheed said. "We're celebrating the power of innovation and the impact we can make on Pakistan's young generation."

The Pakistani delegation displays flags at TEKNOFEST 2025 in Northern Cyprus.Courtesy: Pak-Turk Maarif International

The team spent six months developing their project before securing victory against competitors from dozens of countries. An estimated 250 million people worldwide live with various forms of paralysis and could benefit from such technology, according to medical research.

"Winning at Teknofest is an incredible feeling," student Inaya Khan said. "It's validation of your hard work, your dedication, and your passion. It opens doors to new opportunities, inspires you to dream bigger, and fuels your desire to make a difference in the world."