Meet Anas Niaz, the Pakistani innovator who sent a 3D-printed arm from Karachi to a little girl in Gaza. What he delivered wasn’t just a limb it was a lifeline of hope.
From Smartphone Scan to 3D Molded Miracle
Bioniks, founded in 2016 in Karachi, started with a simple yet transformative idea: use smartphone-based 3D scanning to create affordable prosthetic limbs. Since 2021, it has fitted over 1,000 custom arms in Pakistan, blending AI, remote fittings, and 3D printing to drastically reduce costs from the $10,000–$20,000 of Western devices to just about $2,500 per arm.
Bringing Relief Overseas First Stop: Gaza
In an unprecedented leap, Niaz and his team shipped the first overseas prosthetic arms to Gaza. Among the beneficiaries are eight‑year‑old Sidra Al Bordeeni, who lost her arm in a missile strike, and three‑year‑old Habebat Allah, who lost two arms and a leg. These children underwent remote fittings via video, and Niaz personally traveled to Amman to oversee the final delivery.
The impact? As soon as Sidra received her arm, she pedaled a bicycle in her refugee camp, her first ride since the attack, filming herself forming a heart shape with both arms to send to her father still in Gaza.
Tech Meets Humanity
Bioniks not only manufacture limbs they give them personality. Many of their prosthetics feature beloved characters like Iron Man and Elsa, helping children embrace their new appendages rather than fear them.
In January, the startup also launched a mobile AI-powered limb factory in Gaza, equipped with portable 3D printers and diagnostic systems bringing on-site production directly to the affected communities.
Recognition on the World Stage
Anas Niaz’s leadership has not gone unnoticed. In March 2025, Bioniks became the first Pakistani company honored with the prestigious Zero Project Award in Vienna. The award highlights innovative solutions that expand the rights of people with disabilities. To date, Bioniks has delivered over 700 AI-scanned prosthetics, and the award recognized their contribution to inclusive, equitable technology.
Global Ambition, Local Impact
Despite funding challenges, Bioniks under Niaz’s guidance is scaling its vision. Future plans include extending aid to other conflict zones like Ukraine and ensuring Gaza’s growing amputee population receives replacements as children outgrow their limbs, often every 12–18 months.
As Niaz explains, “Only a few components need to be changed, the rest can be reused,” making the process sustainable and scalable.
A Message of Hope
In a world shadowed by war and suffering, Niaz and Bioniks are shining examples of how technology fused with empathy can restore not only lost limbs but also lost hope.
Sidra summed it up best when she shared her dream: “What I’m looking forward to most is using both my arms to finally hug my father when I see him.
FAQ
Bioniks is a Pakistani health-tech startup that uses AI, 3D scanning, and 3D printing to create customized, low-cost prosthetic limbs—especially for children. The process begins with a smartphone-based scan of the affected limb, followed by digital modeling and remote fitting. The final prosthetic is lightweight, functional, and often themed to help children feel more confident.
Bioniks became the first Pakistani startup to deliver 3D-printed prosthetic limbs to children in Gaza, many of whom lost limbs in the ongoing conflict. Their remote fitting technology, combined with on-site delivery and training, has restored mobility and joy to these children—offering a rare, meaningful form of humanitarian tech intervention.
While similar prosthetics in the West cost up to $20,000, Bioniks provides them for around $2,500. The design is modular, allowing parts to be reused as children grow, making the solution not only affordable but also sustainable for long-term use in resource-constrained regions.