SWABI: Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology hosted the International Symposium on AI and Quantum Technology (AIQT 2025) on Saturday, bringing together leading researchers, academicians and industry experts to explore the convergence of artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
Prof Dr S M Hasan Zaidi, GIKI acting rector, chief guest Asif Ahmad, country general manager of IBM Pakistan, and guest of honour Jehanzeb Sikandar, CEO and Founder of YouCan LLC, were among the distinguished figures who attended the symposium.
The event brought together leading researchers, academics, and industry experts to explore the convergence of artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
The participants from various cities across Pakistan attended the symposium, engaging in insightful discussions on the latest advancements in quantum Internet, quantum state engineering, AI-driven quantum circuits, and quantum optimization.
Chief guest Asif Ahmad, a GIKI alumnus, acknowledged the symposium’s crucial role in developing human capital for the growth of quantum computing in Pakistan.
He stressed the need to foster expertise in emerging technologies to position the country at the forefront of the global quantum revolution.
Jehanzeb Sikandar, guest of honour, shared his enthusiasm for quantum computing and commended GIKI and its faculty for organizing the symposium. Dr M Tahir Naseem delivered a presentation on Quantum State Engineering, discussing the applications of engineered quantum states in computing and communication.
Dr Thejan Rajapakshe from Australia, gave an online talk on Representation Learning with Parameterised Quantum Circuits for Advancing Speech Emotion Recognition, providing insights into how quantum computing is revolutionising AI-driven speech recognition technologies.
Dr Atif Jafri of the University of Glasgow, UK, presented an Adaptive SoCs Based Open-Source Tools for Quantum Computing and AI Research and Development, emphasizing the role of open-source platforms in advancing research. Dr Fakhar Zaman, senior quantum solutions engineer at QCTRL in Greater Sydney, Australia, discussed Quantum Compilers and Quantum Optimization, highlighting the latest innovations in optimizing quantum computations.
Prof Hasan Zaidi emphasised the importance of the symposium in advancing knowledge and innovation in these cutting-edge fields.
He appreciated the efforts of the organizing team and acknowledged the contributions of internationally invited speakers from the UK, Australia, and GIKI.