Seven Pakistanis Make Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 List
News Desk
Islamabad: Pakistan’s rising talent in entertainment, technology, science, entrepreneurship and social impact has gained international recognition as seven young Pakistanis secured places in the prestigious Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 list for 2026.
The annual list, released by Forbes in its 11th edition, celebrates young innovators, entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, investors and changemakers under the age of 30 who are making a significant impact across Asia.
“From entrepreneurs innovating in robotics and AI to investors, artists, athletes and scientists, this year’s 30 Under 30 Asia listees are pushing boundaries in every industry,” Forbes said in its announcement.
Among the most prominent Pakistani names featured this year is actor Hania Aamir, who earned recognition in the Entertainment & Sports category.
With nearly 20 million Instagram followers, Hania is currently Pakistan’s most-followed female celebrity on the platform. She made her acting debut in 2016 and rose to fame through her award-winning performance in the romantic drama Phir Wohi Mohabbat.
Forbes also highlighted her upcoming project Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo, which is expected to become Netflix’s first Pakistani original series.
Filmmaker Saman Kamran was featured in the Arts category for her growing contribution to experimental cinema and visual storytelling.
Her film Gandhara: Land of Fragrance was officially selected for the Cortomontagna-Premio Leggimontagna 2022 festival. In 2024, she collaborated with New York-based artist Wong Kit Yi on the experimental film The Bed She Made, exploring themes of fertility and ecological collapse in Asia.
Her stop-motion music video for Pakistani grunge band Skehlaaj’s See Through the Sin also won Best Music Video at the Film Tuition International Festival.
In the Finance & Venture Capital category, Pakistani entrepreneurs Muhammad Furqan Karim Kidwai and Sarfraz Shahid Hussain were recognised as co-founders of Singapore-based Plouton AI.
According to Forbes, Plouton AI helps midmarket companies automate finance-related workflows through AI-powered browser-based agents capable of handling invoicing, payroll processing, and financial reconciliations. The platform integrates with tools such as Xero, QuickBooks, and Microsoft Excel.
In the Consumer & Enterprise Technology category, Pakistani entrepreneur Syed Ismail earned a spot for co-founding Karachi-based Saraaf in 2021.
The platform aims to modernise commodity sourcing across Central and South Asia by offering businesses real-time pricing, shipment tracking, digitised contracts, and integrated communication systems for materials including cotton and onyx.
Pakistani scientist Maheera Ghani was named in the Healthcare & Science category for her groundbreaking research in advanced materials science and her advocacy for women in STEM education.
After completing her PhD in Materials Science from University of Cambridge in 2025, Ghani is currently pursuing postdoctoral research focused on ultra-thin semiconductors.
She also leads WinSci Pakistan, an initiative promoting women’s participation in science. The project received the Nature Inspiring Women in Science Award last year, presented by Estée Lauder Companies and Springer Nature.
Meanwhile, youth leader Fahad Shahbaz was featured in the Social Impact category for promoting youth engagement in policymaking and governance.
Shahbaz founded the Youth General Assembly in 2015 at the age of 18 to create opportunities for young Pakistanis to participate in leadership and policy discussions.
The initiative operates a 96-member youth assembly modelled after the UK Parliament and Pakistan’s National Assembly, enabling participants to debate national issues and formulate policy recommendations.
According to Forbes, Shahbaz is also a recipient of the Diana Award 2023 and a member of the Pakistan chapter of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community.
The inclusion of seven Pakistanis in Forbes Asia’s influential list is being viewed as a strong reflection of the country’s growing presence in global entertainment, innovation, science, and entrepreneurship sectors.
