As part of its University Alliance Program, HBL in partnership with the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) has launched Pakistan’s first Agri Innovation Hackathon and unveiled a jointly crafted Agri Case Study focused on the dairy sector. This initiative is designed to cultivate student-driven solutions for pressing challenges across dairy supply chains, farm productivity, cold logistics, quality assurance, and rural financial inclusion.
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The hackathon challenged teams to ideate, prototype, and pitch technology-enabled solutions blending business insight and agricultural realities. Drawing participants from across IBA and local universities, contestants presented projects applying AI analytics, mobile apps, traceability systems, blockchain records, sensor IoT, and fintech integration. The winning team of three IBA students was awarded a Golden Pass into HBL’s “The League Internship and Management Trainee Program,” along with a cash reward—offering immediate pathways into professional roles.
“We believe innovation must meet necessity,” said a senior HBL leader. “By engaging young minds with real agrarian challenges, we nurture future leaders who can transform Pakistan’s agriculture ecosystem.” An IBA spokesperson added, “Through this collaboration, academic theory meets field reality. The Agri Case Study functions as a blueprint for scaling and replicating solutions across regions.”
The dairy sector was selected due to its strategic importance and systemic gaps—fragmented supply chains, cold chain failures, and weak financial access stifle farmer incomes. This platform aims to bridge those gaps by surfacing viable, deployable solutions. Over time, HBL intends to roll out selected prototypes in pilot districts, refine models, and facilitate stakeholder partnerships between banks, agribusinesses, and government agencies. By fusing banking, tech, and agriculture, the initiative sets a precedent for meaningful cross-sector innovation in Pakistan.
