ISLAMABAD, Oct 22 (APP):The three-day YES Pakistan: Young CEOs, Entrepreneurs and Innovators Summit, Expo and Awards 2026 concluded at Bahria University Islamabad on Thursday, bringing together policymakers, academia, industry leaders, financial institutions and aspiring entrepreneurs to promote youth-led innovation and strengthen Pakistan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Federal Minister for Investment and Chairman of the Board of Investment (BOI) Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, who attended the concluding ceremony as chief guest, emphasised the need to empower young people through entrepreneurship, innovation and opportunities to establish their own businesses.
He appreciated the initiative for bringing government, academia, industry and aspiring entrepreneurs onto a common platform and stressed the need to organise such events more frequently to nurture entrepreneurial talent and contribute to economic growth.
Former Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman and Convenor of the HEC Task Force on Business Incubation Centres Prof. Dr. Javaid Laghari delivered a keynote address titled “The CEO Mindset: Think, Lead & Win Like a Founder,” highlighting the importance of strategic thinking, leadership and an entrepreneurial approach to identifying opportunities and building successful ventures.
Founder of YES Pakistan Murtaza Noor highlighted the initiative’s objectives and reviewed the three-day activities, which included entrepreneurial workshops, pitching sessions, leadership dialogues, panel discussions, an innovation expo and the YES Pakistan Awards.
He underscored the importance of university-industry collaboration, business incubation and connecting startups with investors and business leaders.
A panel discussion 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 participants discussed emerging business opportunities, entrepreneurial challenges, mentorship and collaboration between experienced business leaders and young entrepreneurs.
Another key session, “Bridging Academia, Finance and Industry: Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem for Pakistan,” featured former Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Sardar Masood Khan, State Bank of Pakistan Rawalpindi Chief Manager Rizwan Shamsi, HEC Member Research and Development Prof. Dr. Habib Bokhari, social entrepreneur and educationist Dr. Afsheen Zeeshan, Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan Chairman Dr. Hafiz Aziz ur Rehman, and Air University Vice Chancellor Air Marshal (Retd.) Abdul Moeed Khan, HI(M).
The discussion highlighted the need for improved access to finance, commercialisation of research, protection of intellectual property and stronger partnerships among universities, industry and financial institutions to support entrepreneurship and sustainable economic development.
The innovation expo remained a major attraction of the event, featuring more than 30 stalls showcasing innovative ideas, projects, products and entrepreneurial ventures. Universities and institutions from across Pakistan, including Gilgit-Baltistan, participated in the exhibition, with Air University, Riphah International University, Aror University and other institutions contributing to the platform for networking, knowledge exchange and collaboration.
The summit also provided students and aspiring entrepreneurs opportunities to present their ideas, strengthen business skills and interact with industry professionals and experienced leaders. The YES Pakistan Awards recognised entrepreneurial achievements and highlighted the role of innovation in enterprise development.
The concluding ceremony featured prize distribution, presentation of souvenirs and closing remarks.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
