- Key Detail: The three-day YES Pakistan: Young CEOs, Entrepreneurs & Innovators Summit, Expo & Awards 2026 concluded at Bahria University Islamabad, bringing together policymakers, university leaders, industry representatives, financial institutions, entrepreneurs and students to promote youth entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainable economic development. The summit was held from October 20 to 22 as a national platform connecting emerging entrepreneurs, startups, universities, industry and policymakers.
- Key Detail: Federal Minister for Investment and Chairman of the Board of Investment (BOI), Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, attended the concluding ceremony as chief guest and called for greater efforts to empower young people through entrepreneurship, innovation and opportunities to establish their own businesses. He appreciated the initiative for bringing academia, industry, government and aspiring entrepreneurs together and stressed that such platforms should be organised more frequently to nurture entrepreneurial talent and contribute to Pakistan’s economic growth.
- Key Detail: Former Higher Education Commission ( HEC ) Chairman and Convenor of the HEC Task Force on Business Incubation Centres (BICs), Prof Dr Javaid Laghari, delivered the concluding day’s keynote address, titled “The CEO Mindset: Think, Lead & Win Like a Founder.” He highlighted strategic thinking, leadership and an entrepreneurial approach as essential for identifying opportunities, developing innovative solutions and building successful ventures.
Empowering Student Founders: YES Pakistan 2026 Wraps Up in Islamabad
The three-day YES Pakistan: Young CEOs, Entrepreneurs & Innovators Summit, Expo & Awards 2026 has officially concluded at Bahria University Islamabad. Held from October 20 to 22, the nationwide gathering established a collaborative platform bringing together emerging student entrepreneurs, university leaders, industry executives, financial institutions, and public policymakers to champion youth entrepreneurship, technological innovation, and sustainable economic progress.
Event Summary & Key Milestones
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Event Name | YES Pakistan: Young CEOs, Entrepreneurs & Innovators Summit, Expo & Awards 2026 |
| Convening Dates | October 20–22, 2026 |
| Host Venue | Bahria University, Islamabad |
| Chief Guest | Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Federal Minister for Investment & Chairman, Board of Investment (BOI) |
| Keynote Speaker | Prof. Dr. Javaid Laghari, Former Chairman HEC & Convenor, HEC Task Force on BICs |
| Keynote Theme | “The CEO Mindset: Think, Lead & Win Like a Founder” |
Government Support for Academic Enterprise
Federal Minister for Investment and Chairman of the Board of Investment (BOI), Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, addressed the summit's concluding ceremony as the chief guest. Emphasizing the vital economic role of self-employment and startup ventures, the minister called for coordinated national initiatives to empower Pakistani youth through entrepreneurship and direct opportunities to establish sustainable commercial enterprises.
Minister Sheikh commended the leadership of the summit for effectively convening academia, commercial industry, government regulators, and aspiring founders in a single venue. He underlined that collaborative initiatives of this nature should be scheduled regularly across Pakistani universities to nurture commercial talent, retain high-skilled graduates, and stimulate broad-based economic growth.
Fostering the CEO Mindset Across University Incubators
Delivering the summit's concluding keynote address, titled “The CEO Mindset: Think, Lead & Win Like a Founder,” Prof. Dr. Javaid Laghari—former Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman and current Convenor of the HEC Task Force on Business Incubation Centres (BICs)—detailed the foundational principles needed to convert academic research into viable market solutions. Prof. Laghari stressed that cultivating strategic thinking, disciplined leadership, and an entrepreneurial approach is indispensable for discovering untapped market opportunities, developing resilient products, and leading successful startup ventures.
Actionable Takeaways for Pakistani Students and Parents
While the summit concluded on October 22, the proceedings signal significant policy momentum directly impacting students and families navigating higher education and early career planning:
- Prioritizing University Incubation: With the HEC Task Force on Business Incubation Centres actively shaping policy, university students are encouraged to engage with their institution's on-campus BIC to access structured mentorship, intellectual property guidance, and institutional pitch forums before graduation.
- Direct Access to Financial Ecosystems: The active participation of financial institutions at Bahria University indicates expanding formal funding and commercialization pipelines for university-based capstone and final-year research projects.
- Expanding National Startup Opportunities: Given the Board of Investment's commitment to youth-led enterprises, students developing innovative products should monitor subsequent institutional networking rounds and national expo calls through their respective university research and commercialization directorates (ORICs).
Source: Academia Magazine.
Source: Academia Magazine