PESHAWAR: At the age of 13, most teenagers worry about scoring high in test results, beating an opponent at the latest PlayStation game or overcoming the changes and pressures associated with puberty.
But not Abdullah Khan Swati.
The 13-year-old Pakistani student from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (KPP) has bigger fish to fry.
As the world’s youngest IT expert, Swati secured the first place at a gaming competition in Vietnam, for “demonstrating exceptional skills” and beating several other opponents at “Duck”.
Abdullah Khan Swati, a 13-year-old Pakistani IT expert, poses for a photo in Vietnam on November 22, 2019. Swati secures First Merit Award for demonstrating matchless skill in computer game known as “Duck” at the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Competition held in Ha Long, Vietnam, on November 20, 2019. (Photo: Abdullah Khan Swati family)
The event, titled the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) competition, was held in Ha Long, Vietnam from November 18 to 23 and saw dozens of teams from around 16 countries participating in the Junior Student category.
“It is a huge achievement for Pakistan and KP. We will arrange a program in honor of Swati and other students who have achievements and will give them prizes and laptops to recognize their contribution,” Ziaullah Bangash, Education Minister in northwestern KPP told Arab News on Wednesday.
He added that his department’s efforts were finally paying off as was evident with Swati’s win.
Abdullah Khan Swati, a 13-year-old Pakistani IT expert, stands behind the awards he secured during the past couple of years. Swati secures First Merit Award for demonstrating matchless skill in computer game known as “Duck” at the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Competition held in Ha Long, Vietnam, on November 20, 2019. (Photo: KP IT Board)
“From the very start, I knew that I will secure a distinction. The credit for my achievement goes to my father and the KP IT Board for teaching me advance knowledge about IT,” Swati told Arab News, adding that it was a unique experience for him to represent his country at the international competition.
It’s a win for Pakistan, too, Swati’s family said, adding that they had “no words to express their happiness.”
“I really have no words to express my happiness. But the thumping victory of my son is the victory of Pakistan and KP education and IT departments,” Haleema Rizwan told Arab News.
It’s a middle-class family of five with Swati’s father working as a schoolteacher in their hometown of Mansehra, a scenic district in KPP.
“It was the happiest day of my life when I was told that my son has secured the first position. It is like I have no more wishes left in my life. Today, it is the victory for Pakistan,” Rizwan Ullah, Swati’s father said.
Danish Babar, communication manager at KP Information Technology Board, said that Swati’s brilliant achievement had infused fresh enthusiasm in his department to intensify their efforts and scour for more new talent.
Swati was given intense training sessions in the Early Age Programming by the KP IT Board, resulting in him winning the Pasha ICT Awards in Pakistan this year, Babar said.
“The KP Information Technology Board’s has been teaching Early Age Programming to eighth-grade students since April 27, 2017, empowering them to create mobile apps, computer games, software and websites in a bid to produce talent of international stature,” he added.
The province had matchless talent but needed proper guidance and skills to evolve, Babar said, adding that the provincial government was working at making Early Age Programming a regular part of the curriculum across the province.
