Mapping for Social Good: Pakistan’s First Nationwide Mapathon

Bright and early on a Saturday morning, tech enthusiasts and civic-minded Pakistanis who would be sipping their late-morning chai or sleeping in at this hour are instead huddled around their laptops, ready to participate in Pakistan’s first nationwide hybrid Mapathon on 14 September 2024.

Since hosting its first hackathon at T2F in Karachi in 2013, Code for Pakistan (CfP) has been bridging the gap between citizens and the government through the meaningful use of technology. From civic engagement to digital governance, climate change and disaster management, CfP’s mission has been to harness technology for public good. The Mapathon strives to unite technologists, artists and citizens in mapping urban challenges across Pakistan.

Beyond the usual grumbling about ‘mulk kay halaat’ (the state of the country), Habib University and Code for Pakistan’s Islamabad office comprised an energetic and driven population of young Pakistanis. They were genuinely excited to spend their Saturday immersed in talks about GIS, technology and civic hacking, with many tuning in online. Who says Gen Z is lazy? They’re ready to turn chai-time complaints into action.

We are at the Horizon, Habib University’s futuristic space. On our screen, we see a stream of people walking into our Islamabad office, with many more joining on Zoom. Everyone from tech newbies to seasoned professionals shared the same goal: to map a better Pakistan. 

Wadan from Peshawar echoed this sentiment: “I had no idea mapping could be so impactful until I saw how it can directly assist disaster relief efforts.” Asna, an art student from Indus Valley, noted, “I came here thinking this was just about tech, but now I see how visual storytelling through maps can shape our cities.” Meanwhile, Aisha, from Dow University, mapped flood-prone areas, saying, “This has given me new ideas on bringing medical and mapping data together.”

When Maps Meet Social Good

The Mapathon kicked off simultaneously at Habib University in Karachi, the CfP office in Islamabad, and online. Researchers from the Precision Medicine Lab in Peshawar travelled to Islamabad, bringing their scientific expertise and unique perspectives to the event. 

The day began, as all great Pakistani gatherings do, with chai. A show of hands revealed that many participants were new to mapping but keen to learn. Throughout the day, sessions were designed to facilitate learning and apply their knowledge to mapping points. The speakers made even the most directionally challenged among us excited about mapping. It was like TED Talks met Google Maps, with a dash of Pakistani flavour. 

• Zaineb Makati, a lecturer and Dean’s Fellow at Habib University, has been developing GIS solutions, including tracking and recording minibus routes in Karachi – a mammoth feat given the city’s transportation challenges. 

• Namra Khalid, the force behind Karachi Cartography, spoke about tracing 3500 maps of the city scattered across the world, in institutions such as the Library of Congress, DC. She emphasised how mapping the geographic evolution of the city can help us better understand the root causes of disasters we face today, such as urban flooding, and build resilience strategies accordingly.

• Shaji Ahmed, CEO of CfP, emphasised the role of maps in engineering civic solutions, referencing the COVID-19 dashboard CfP built for the government. He highlighted how NASA’s freely accessible satellite imagery is one of many underutilised datasets with tremendous potential for addressing civic issues.

• Yasir Husain explained how his organisation, the Climate Action Center, is utilising historical maps to litigate the protection of critical ecological sites. This includes fighting the encroachment of Kirthar National Park by Bahria Town, safeguarding the mangroves along Sindh’s coastline, and addressing the uncompensated displacement of residents from Gujjar Nala.

• Sophia Hasnain, a leading expert in data-driven solutions, shared her vision for mapping cleaner routes for Karachi’s cycling community, highlighting the importance of accessible air quality information for city planning. “Turn left for cleaner air, right for… well, just hold your breath,” she quipped, explaining how real-time data could empower citizens to make informed decisions about their daily commutes.

Gamifying the Mapping Process

Uzair Ahmed, the lead and often sole contributor to OpenStreetMap in Pakistan, introduced ‘MapRoulette’, and it wasn’t long before participants like Abdur Rahman, a university student from Peshawar, were competing to win. “I never thought mapping could feel like a game, but this is awesome!” he laughed during a break. Sohaib, a software engineer, reflected: “The event demonstrates how climate researchers, social activists, software engineers, and even the average hobbyist – using tools like MapRoulette – are contributing to the development of modern civic solutions, the pursuit of justice for oppressed peoples, and addressing contemporary man-made climate catastrophes.”

Mikko Tamura from Humanitarian OpenStreetMap (HOTOSM) reminded us why we were really here, highlighting the importance of open-source mapping in disaster response and community resilience, reminding us of our true purpose: “We’re not just creating maps – we’re saving lives, empowering communities, and building a safer future for everyone.” Through real-world examples, Mikko illustrated how critical mapping efforts have supported disaster-affected regions, offering hope and practical solutions to those most in need. Faizan Khattak also shared a 1952 map of Rawalpindi, offering participants a striking visualisation of how rapidly our urban geography is evolving.

And the Award for “Most Likely To Map The World” Goes to…

Although not meant to be competitive, by day’s end, clear winners emerged, with doctors leading the charge. It turns out, years of analysing microbes translate surprisingly well to scrutinising satellite imagery!

Dr Qazi Kamran Amin from the Precision Medicine Lab claimed the top spot with his scientific expertise. He also shared unique maps that captivated participants. “Mapping areas isn’t just about data for me – it’s about helping my community prepare for the future,” he shared.

Second place went to the dynamic duo of Shereen Khan from NUST and Aisha Usman from DOW University. Watch out world – these women are mapping a brighter future, quite literally!

The KGS STEM Society team members, Syed Daniyal Qadri, Rayyan Jamil Khan, Rayan Ali Khan, and Faiz Iqbal proved that being good with numbers doesn’t mean you can’t also be good with maps. It’s like they decided to solve Pakistan’s cartographic equations while the rest of us were still trying to remember how to spell ‘cartographic’.

Why it Matters

In the age of doom-scrolling and TikTok challenges, it was refreshing to see a passionate community of young mappers eager to contribute to civic issues. The maps created during this event will contribute to:

● Climate change mitigation efforts because we’d like to keep Karachi above water!

● Urban planning and development, we’ll finally get those promised parks.

● Disaster response and management, especially during monsoon season.

● Protection of ecological sites to help save and preserve mangroves.

● Improved public transportation systems – this one is for the dreamers!

Looking Ahead

As the last pixels were placed and the final coordinates logged, it became clear that this Mapathon was more than just an event – it was the beginning of a movement. This gathering of minds – spanning students, professionals, and hobbyists – brings to light the untapped potential within Pakistan’s tech-savvy youth. This isn’t about navigating the digital landscape; it’s time to step up and reshape it, one map at a time. As these maps evolve into tools for climate action, urban planning, and disaster response, let’s chart a course toward a more informed and planned Pakistan.

Participants like Rayyan left the event inspired: “This wasn’t just a one-time activity – it has sparked a desire to keep contributing to civic tech in Pakistan,” he shared.

So, here’s to hoping this spirit of hacking, mapping, and developing solutions continues to thrive – empowering people to engage with the system, take ownership and drive change rather than simply criticising the government.

Amna Zafar is Head of Communications, Code for Pakistanamna@codeforpakistan.org