SOFTEC (FAST-NUCES Lahore)
One of Pakistan's best known university tech festivals, run by students at FAST-NUCES Lahore every spring. It hosts competitions in areas such as competitive programming, software and web development, AI, game development and cybersecurity, alongside talks and an exhibition. Teams from universities across Pakistan take part.
Programme
Career Growth
FAST-NUCES Lahore
A weekend each spring
Beginner
Free
Competition
- When
- Usually opens in February, March and AprilCompetition registration usually opens in February to April before the spring event. Check the SOFTEC site and social pages for the year's dates.
- Who can apply
- Mainly university students from across Pakistan, competing in teams or individually depending on the competition. Each competition sets its own rules, team size and any entry fee.
- Where
- In person, Lahore
Dates move from year to year. Check the official page before you plan around them.
What it is
SOFTEC is the annual software competition and tech festival organised by students of FAST-NUCES Lahore, one of the oldest university tech events in Pakistan. The organising team holds its orientation in early winter, reveals the dates and runs the main event in spring. Competitions change each year, and have included competitive programming, software and app development, AI, game development and cybersecurity challenges, alongside talks, workshops and a project exhibition where companies meet students.
Who can apply
Mostly university students, with teams travelling from universities across Pakistan. Each competition sets its own eligibility, team size and entry fee, so read the rules for the competition you choose.
Timeline
SOFTEC'26 held its orientation on 1 December 2025 and the main event took place in spring 2026; the 2025 edition was in late April. Registrations usually open a few weeks to a couple of months before the event. Follow the official site and SOFTEC's social channels for the current year.
How to prepare
- Choose one or two competitions that match your strengths rather than entering everything.
- For programming contests, practise ICPC-style team problem sets.
- For development and AI competitions, build a polished demo beforehand if the format allows, and practise a short pitch.
- Plan travel and accommodation early if you are coming from another city.
What you get
Cash prizes and certificates for winners (amounts vary by competition and year), recognition among Pakistani tech companies that sponsor and judge, and a chance to meet students from other universities. Exhibition participants can show their final year projects to recruiters.
Similar events
Other FAST-NUCES campuses and universities across Pakistan run their own festivals, such as PROCOM in Karachi and NASCON in Islamabad. The same preparation applies.
Pair it with on Sefism
- Train with the Competitive programming roadmap.
- Bring a project from FYP ideas to the exhibition.
- Use the Job-ready roadmap to talk about your project with recruiters.
Best for: Pakistani university students who want a national stage for programming, development and project competitions.
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