ISLAMABAD, Oct 21 (APP):The YES Summit, Expo and Startup Competition 2026 was inaugurated at Bahria University Islamabad on Wednesday to promote youth entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership and sustainable business development by strengthening collaboration among academia, industry and the business community.
Syeda Amna Batool, Member of the National Assembly and Focal Person to the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, attended the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest. Vice Admiral Abid Hameed HI(M), Rector of Bahria University, welcomed the guests, including representatives of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), policymakers, academic leaders, industry representatives, entrepreneurs and social innovators.
The initiative is being organized in collaboration with the HEC Task Force on Business Incubation Centres (BICs), OIC-COMSTECH and other leading organizations and universities to provide a common platform for promoting innovation, entrepreneurship and opportunities for young business leaders.
Dr. Javaid Laghari, Chairman of the HEC Task Force on Business Incubation Centres, and Dr. Habib Boukhari also addressed the gathering, highlighting the importance of strengthening academia-industry linkages, encouraging innovation-driven entrepreneurship and developing an enabling ecosystem for startups.
The speakers appreciated the efforts of Murtaza Noor, Founder of YES Pakistan, for bringing universities, industry leaders, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders together to advance youth entrepreneurship and innovation in the country.
The summit featured keynote addresses and panel discussions on leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, the role of universities in business development and women’s contributions to economic growth.
In his keynote address, Dr. Shoab A. Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT and IT-enabled Services (P@SHA), shared insights into effective leadership, technological innovation and the evolving entrepreneurial landscape.
The first panel discussion, titled “Leadership, Innovation and 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 panelists discussed their leadership experiences, innovative business strategies and lessons from the corporate sector.
The second panel, titled “Universities as Catalysts for Future Entrepreneurship,” brought together 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); and Prof. Dr. Shahzad Khan, Vice Chancellor of the Health Services Academy (HSA).
The discussion focused on the role of higher education institutions in fostering entrepreneurial mindsets, strengthening innovation ecosystems, supporting startups and preparing young people to become future business leaders.
The third panel, titled “Women Driving Innovation and Entrepreneurship,” 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; Fajar Rabia Pasha, social entrepreneur; and Dr. Sonia Saleem, CEO of Socio Engineering Technologies.
The panelists shared their entrepreneurial journeys and leadership experiences and discussed women’s contributions to innovation, inclusive growth and economic development.
The YES Summit, Expo and Startup Competition 2026 aims to strengthen linkages among universities, business incubation centres, industry, investors and entrepreneurs while providing young innovators and emerging businesses with opportunities to showcase their ideas, establish professional networks and explore avenues for sustainable growth.
The initiative highlights the importance of cooperation among the government, academia, industry and the entrepreneurial community in empowering young people, promoting innovation and building a dynamic, knowledge-driven economy.