Youth Entrepreneurship Takes Centre Stage at YES Pakistan 2026
News Desk
ISLAMABAD: The three-day YES Pakistan: Young CEOs, Entrepreneurs and Innovators Summit, Expo and Awards 2026 concluded at Bahria University Islamabad, bringing together government officials, academic leaders, industry representatives, financial institutions, entrepreneurs and students to promote innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable economic growth.
Federal Minister for Investment and Chairman of the Board of Investment (BOI), Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, attended the concluding ceremony as the chief guest and called for greater efforts to empower young people through entrepreneurship, innovation and opportunities to establish their own businesses.
Addressing the ceremony, he appreciated the initiative for bringing academia, industry, government and aspiring entrepreneurs together on a common platform. He stressed the need to organise such events more frequently to nurture entrepreneurial talent, encourage innovative thinking and contribute to Pakistan’s economic development.
The concluding day featured a keynote address by Prof. Dr. Javaid Laghari, former chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and convenor of the HEC Task Force on Business Incubation Centres (BICs).
In his address, titled “The CEO Mindset: Think, Lead & Win Like a Founder,” Laghari highlighted the importance of strategic thinking, effective leadership and an entrepreneurial mindset in identifying opportunities, developing innovative solutions and building successful businesses.
Murtaza Noor, founder of YES Pakistan, outlined the initiative’s objectives and reviewed the activities held during the three-day event. He said the platform aimed to promote entrepreneurship among young people, strengthen university-industry collaboration, connect startups with investors and business leaders, and support business incubation.
The programme featured entrepreneurial workshops, startup pitching activities, leadership dialogues, panel discussions, an innovation expo and the YES Pakistan Awards.
Challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurs
One of the key sessions, Panel Discussion IV, titled “Bridging Generations: An Intergenerational Dialogue on Entrepreneurial Challenges & Opportunities,” brought together Taha Sawar, Dr. Awais Mahmood, Wasim Irshad, CEO of Tangent Tech and president of the Bahria Alumni Association, and Ibrahim Saeed, CEO of Techma Labs.
The discussion focused on challenges facing entrepreneurs, emerging business opportunities, mentorship and the importance of collaboration between experienced business leaders and young entrepreneurs.
Another major session, “Bridging Academia, Finance & Industry: Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem for Pakistan,” brought together representatives from government, academia, finance and industry to discuss ways to strengthen Pakistan’s entrepreneurial landscape.
The speakers included Sardar Masood Khan, former president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir; Rizwan Shamsi, chief manager at the State Bank of Pakistan, Rawalpindi; Prof. Dr. Habib Bokhari, member of the HEC’s Research and Development wing; Dr. Afsheen Zeeshan, social entrepreneur and educationist; Dr. Hafiz Aziz ur Rehman, chairman of the Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan; and Air Marshal (Retd.) Abdul Moeed Khan, HI(M), vice chancellor of Air University.
The dialogue highlighted the need to improve access to finance, commercialise research, protect intellectual property and establish stronger partnerships among universities, industries and financial institutions.
Innovation expo showcases entrepreneurial ventures
The innovation expo remained one of the main attractions of YES Pakistan 2026, featuring more than 30 stalls showcasing innovative ideas, projects, products and entrepreneurial ventures.
Universities and institutions from across Pakistan, including participants from Gilgit-Baltistan, took part in the exhibition. Air University, Riphah International University, Aror University and other institutions showcased their contributions to innovation and entrepreneurship.
The expo provided students, emerging entrepreneurs and participating institutions with opportunities to exchange ideas, establish professional connections and explore potential collaborations.
The three-day summit also enabled students and aspiring entrepreneurs to develop business skills, present their ideas, interact with industry professionals and learn from experienced business leaders.
The YES Pakistan Awards recognised entrepreneurial achievements and highlighted the role of innovation and enterprise development in supporting economic growth.
The event concluded with a prize distribution ceremony, the presentation of souvenirs and closing remarks, reaffirming the importance of youth-led entrepreneurship, innovation and collaboration in building a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem in Pakistan.
