In a proud moment for Pakistan, students from Pak-Turk Maarif International Schools and Colleges received the first prize in the TÜBİTAK Social Innovation Competition (Middle School Category) at TEKNOFEST 2025, held in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The award was presented personally by the President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, recognizing the students’ innovative contribution to technology with social impact.
The winning project, titled “Emotion Detector Gadget for Quadriplegic,” was developed by Asma Fatima and Inaya Khan from the Lahore Dream Garden Campus. Competing under the team name Maarif Scientist 25, the students created a device aimed at identifying and conveying emotional states for individuals with quadriplegia, thereby enhancing their ability to communicate and improving emotional well-being. The project received acclaim for its originality and potential to positively affect lives.
TEKNOFEST, considered the world’s largest aerospace, science, and technology festival, gathered young innovators and students from across the globe. Projects at the event were judged by leading experts and evaluated for their empathy-driven and solution-focused designs. The recognition of the Pak-Turk Maarif students was hailed as a significant achievement not only for the institution but for Pakistan, reflecting the country’s growing role in global innovation.
The students were guided by their mentor, Ms Gohar Khursheed, and represented Pak-Turk Maarif International, an educational network under the Turkish Maarif Foundation. The foundation operates in more than 53 countries and is committed to fostering academic excellence, innovation, and cultural ties.
With a network of 25 branches and more than 13,000 students in Pakistan, Pak-Turk Maarif International Schools and Colleges focus on holistic education that promotes critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and social responsibility. Their efforts continue to strengthen the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and Türkiye, advancing the shared vision of “Two Nations – One Future.”