YES Summit 2026 Opens in Islamabad

News Desk

ISLAMABAD: The YES Summit, Expo & Startup Competition 2026 was inaugurated at Bahria University Islamabad on Wednesday, bringing together policymakers, academics, industry leaders, entrepreneurs and social innovators to promote youth entrepreneurship, technological innovation and sustainable business development.

Syeda Amna Batool, Member of the National Assembly and Focal Person to the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, attended the inaugural ceremony as chief guest. Vice Admiral Abid Hameed HI(M), Rector of Bahria University, welcomed the guests and highlighted the importance of collaboration among academia, industry and the entrepreneurial community.

The initiative is being organised in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) Task Force on Business Incubation Centres (BICs), OIC-COMSTECH and other universities and organisations. Representatives of the HEC also attended the event, alongside Dr Javaid Laghari, Chairman of the HEC Task Force on Business Incubation Centres, and Dr Habib Boukhari, who addressed the gathering.

Speakers stressed the need to strengthen academia-industry linkages, encourage innovation-driven entrepreneurship and establish a supportive ecosystem for startups and young business leaders. They also acknowledged the efforts of Murtaza Noor, founder of YES Pakistan, in bringing universities, business leaders and entrepreneurs together to advance youth entrepreneurship and innovation.

The summit featured keynote addresses and panel discussions covering leadership, innovation, the role of universities in entrepreneurship and women’s participation in economic development.

In the keynote session, Dr Shoab A. Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), shared insights into effective leadership, technological innovation and emerging opportunities in the entrepreneurial landscape.

The first panel discussion, titled “Leadership, Innovation & Lessons from Leading CEOs,” featured Pervaiz Abbassi, CEO of ADVentures; Muhammad Adnan Mukhtar, Convener of the FPCCI Academia-Industry Committee; and Moazzam Shahbaz, CEO of NAQEEBZ. The panellists discussed leadership experiences, innovative business strategies and lessons from the corporate sector.

A second panel, “Universities as Catalysts for Future Entrepreneurship,” examined the role of higher education institutions in nurturing entrepreneurial talent, supporting startups and strengthening innovation ecosystems. Participants included Vice Admiral Engr. Abid Hameed HI(M) (Retd), Rector of Bahria University; Dr Ijaz Qureshi, Vice Chancellor of Ganj Shakar University; Prof. Dr Zahid Khand, Vice Chancellor of Aror University; Dr Muhammad Abu Bakr, Chairman of the University of Okara (UoR), as identified in the event information; and Prof. Dr Shahzad Khan, Vice Chancellor of the Health Services Academy.

The discussion highlighted the importance of preparing students to become future business leaders by equipping them with entrepreneurial skills, encouraging innovation and facilitating stronger connections between universities and industry.

Women’s role in entrepreneurship and innovation was the focus of the third panel, titled “Women Driving Innovation & Entrepreneurship.” The session featured Naima Ansari, Senior Vice President of the Azerbaijan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce; Rabia Farhan, former Senior Vice President of the Islamabad Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry; social entrepreneur Fajar Rabia Pasha; and Dr Sonia Saleem, CEO of Socio Engineering Technologies.

The panellists shared perspectives on women’s entrepreneurial journeys, leadership challenges and contributions to inclusive economic growth and innovation.

The YES Summit, Expo & Startup Competition 2026 aims to connect universities, business incubation centres, industry representatives, investors and entrepreneurs while providing young innovators and emerging businesses with opportunities to showcase ideas, establish professional networks and explore avenues for sustainable growth.

The event underscored the importance of cooperation among government, academia and industry in empowering Pakistan’s youth, fostering entrepreneurship and supporting the development of a knowledge-driven economy.