Introducing Pakistan Flying Labs: Building Futures with Drone and Robotics Innovation

By Pakistan Flying Labs

In April 2025, at the South Asia Drone Forum, Headstart School connected with WeRobotics and was introduced to the Flying Labs Network. Hearing stories from Flying Labs across the globe — using drones for environmental monitoring, disaster relief, and sustainable development — deeply resonated with our mission. It reinforced our commitment to empowering Pakistan’s youth through hands-on learning in robotics, drones, and design thinking. What began as a conversation evolved into recognition of a shared vision. And from that spark, Pakistan Flying Labs was born.

Pakistan Flying Labs now joins the global Flying Labs Network with a clear purpose: to strengthen local capacity, build bridges between education and industry, and co-create solutions that are not only innovative but deeply rooted in community needs.

Leading Pakistan Flying Labs is a team of educators and technologists:

• Mr. Alamdar Murtaza: Executive Director at Headstart School, driving strategic leadership and a future-ready vision for education.
• Ms. Saadia Habib: Director of Robotics & STEM at Headstart, a design-thinking educator and mentor inspiring the next generation of innovators.
• Muhammad Haroon Yousaf: Professor, Director of the Swarm Robotics Lab-NCRA and ORIC, and a leading voice in AI and autonomous systems in Pakistan.

Together, they bring decades of experience and a shared commitment to creating an innovation ecosystem that uplifts youth and serves the nation.

Pakistan Flying Labs isn’t starting from scratch. It builds on a strong foundation of impactful projects that have already begun to shape Pakistan’s STEM landscape.

• Autonomous Drone for Carbon Emission Detection (2023–Present)

Recognized at the P@SHA ICT Awards and shortlisted for the Asia Pacific ICT Awards, this prototype addresses climate action (SDG 13) by enabling real-time environmental monitoring. Its success lies in innovative sensor integration and strong relevance to urgent environmental challenges. 

• Delivery Drone System (2022–Ongoing)

A conceptual last-mile delivery drone aimed at improving accessibility in remote areas. This project explores autonomous navigation and payload management, demonstrating potential to transform logistics and social inclusion. 

• Momentum: A Smart Health Monitoring Device (2023–Present)

This wearable AI-powered health assistant collects real-time data for personalized feedback, showcasing the application of IoT and AI in public health. Its success potential is high due to growing demand for personalized health tech. 

• Momentum AI: Advanced AI Chatbot (2024–In Development)

A specialized healthcare and education support chatbot adapted from ChatGPT technology, aimed at delivering localized, accessible assistance. Its innovation lies in AI personalization for critical sectors.

• Jet Engine Emission Filtration System (2023–Concept Phase)

A conceptual cryogenic distillation filter designed to reduce jet engine emissions by up to 66.7%, reflecting our commitment to sustainable engineering solutions. 

• Drone Racing and FPV Engineering

Since 2018, Headstart has hosted the country’s largest student drone racing competitions, blending fun with learning in flight dynamics, control systems, and aeromodelling. These events serve as practical innovation labs for youth engagement and talent growth.

• Programmable Drone Kits for Youth (2024–Ongoing)

Developing user-friendly, programmable drone kits empowers students to build and customize drones while learning coding and electronics. This project bridges education and hands-on experience, making drone tech accessible nationwide. 

What makes these projects not just impressive, but transformative?

• Alignment with SDGs: Each project targets real-world challenges aligned with global sustainability goals.
• Hands-on Learning: Our emphasis is on project-based, design-thinking education ensures deep engagement and skill-building.
• Innovation and Recognition: Awards and collaborations reflect the quality and relevance of our work.
• Youth Empowerment: Focus on training and competitions cultivates a new generation of problem-solvers and innovators.
• Scalable Concepts: Many projects are designed for future development and broad community impact.

At the local level, Pakistan Flying Labs’ focus is on empowering educators and students by integrating robotics, drones, and design thinking into everyday learning. Nationally, we aim to foster a sustainable innovation ecosystem by connecting schools, policymakers, and industry leaders. This will drive Pakistan’s leadership in STEM and emerging technologies to address critical issues aligned with the SDGs.

By joining the Flying Labs Network, we enter a global community that believes in local expertise, equitable access to technology, and collaboration across borders.

Subscribe to the Flying Labs Network newsletter to stay up to date on Pakistan Flying Labs' activities, and on how drones, data, and AI solutions are being implemented by local experts for social good in the Global South.