Peacetech exchange II

10 to 12 June, Habib University

by Amna Zafar

After identifying core problematic issues related to their projects, participants were asked to synthesize the challenges into a statement and find a solution to them. Pitches were made by ten teams on the last day  by incorporating selected technologies like a mobile app or a web based app, into their projects to make them able to promote peace. The ideas were generated after being exposed to a diverse range of technologies through the experts present at the event itself. 

The Karachi Biennale Team launched its initiative of peace building by bringing art into public space through involvement from the artist community. The idea involved the use of 100 original Pakistan Cables reels from the urban environment worked on by artists and involved with communities all over Karachi. A large scale city wide project titled Reel on Hai is to be created. An open call has gone out on this website www.karachibiennale.org.pk A web platform that maps the reels, narrates community stories, archives data and encourages civic engagement in one space was needed to create a birds eye view of the project. The webplatform would use open source content management systems like story maps, google maps, storifi etc. in a fun manner to make the project far reaching.

The Karachi Biennale Team comprising of Atteqa Malik, Ruqayya Rizwan, Nasheed Imran and Bina Ali won one of the three prizes that supported peace building in Karachi. The prizes were awarded after a rigorous pitching session from all teams in front of a panel of 5 judges.

The other two winners were Peache Niche, who pitched the creation of an app that connects many players of civic related activities to each other remotely and MentHub that was aiming to create an online space connecting youths to mentors within the city.

Speakers at this event included activist Jibran M Nasir, musician Ali Gul Pir and comedian Faiza Saleem. Technologist Jehan Ara from PASHA gave the closing remarks.

There seemed to be a consensus amongst most speakers that there are very restricted spaces in the city where people can really speak their minds. Such spaces are now becoming available online. The pros and cons of having such spaces available were shared with participants of the workshop thus giving them a very holistic experience to go home with after the three days of peace tech exchange PTXKarachi.

Amna is a multimedia journalist. She takes her coffee very seriously. And loves reading, technology and the outdoors