Pakistan’s Economic Future Hinges on Investment, Youth Entrepreneurship: Qaiser Sheikh

YES Pakistan 2026 Summit Showcases Young Innovators as Minister Calls for a Business-Friendly Environment, Fewer Bureaucratic Hurdles and Stronger University-Industry Partnerships

Syed Naveed Hussain

ISLAMABAD: Declaring investment and entrepreneurship vital to Pakistan’s sustainable economic growth, Federal Minister for Investment and Board of Investment (BOI) Chairman Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh has called for a stable, business-friendly environment and greater support for young entrepreneurs, saying that empowering the next generation of innovators is essential to expanding businesses, boosting exports and creating employment opportunities.

Speaking as chief guest at the concluding ceremony of the three-day YES Pakistan: Young CEOs, Entrepreneurs & Innovators Summit, Expo and Awards 2026 at Bahria University Islamabad, he pledged that the government would facilitate investors, remove unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles and help promising Pakistani business ideas reach international markets.

Qaiser emphasised that strong business growth and sustainable investment are fundamental to Pakistan’s economic development, stressing that the country cannot achieve sustainable economic progress without a stable business environment and consistent investment.

The Federal Minister said investment brings modern technology, enhances productivity, and creates new employment opportunities. Business expansion, increased exports, and economic stability, he added, are essential for Pakistan’s development.

Qaiser said that the Board of Investment was committed to facilitating investors and entrepreneurs at every stage of the investment process. The government, he noted, was working to remove unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles and provide a business-friendly environment to encourage investment and expand economic activity. 

Describing young entrepreneurs and innovators as key drivers of Pakistan’s investment-led economic growth, he highlighted the contribution of university business incubation centres in developing innovative projects, strengthening the economic base, and encouraging new business ventures.

The minister stressed that effective cooperation among policymakers, universities, and the private sector was essential for Pakistan’s economic future. He assured that the government would support efforts to take innovative ideas and entrepreneurial projects from local markets to international markets.

He appreciated the YES Pakistan initiative for bringing academia, industry, government, and aspiring entrepreneurs together on a common platform. He stressed that such events should be organised more frequently to nurture entrepreneurial talent, encourage creative thinking, and strengthen young people’s contribution to national economic growth.

The three-day summit, expo, and awards ceremony concluded at Bahria University Islamabad, bringing together policymakers, university leaders, representatives of industry and financial institutions, entrepreneurs, and students to promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable economic development in Pakistan.

On the concluding day, Professor Dr Javaid Laghari, former Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Convenor of the HEC Task Force on Business Incubation Centres (BICs), delivered a keynote address titled “The CEO Mindset: Think, Lead & Win Like a Founder.” He highlighted the importance of strategic thinking, leadership, identifying business opportunities, and developing innovative solutions for building successful enterprises.

Murtaza Noor, Founder of YES Pakistan, outlined the initiative’s objectives and reviewed the activities conducted during the three-day event. He reaffirmed the platform’s commitment to promoting entrepreneurship among young people, strengthening university-industry collaboration, connecting startups with investors and business leaders, and supporting business incubation.

The programme featured entrepreneurial workshops, business pitching sessions, leadership dialogues, panel discussions, an innovation expo, and the YES Pakistan Awards.

A panel discussion titled “Bridging Generations: An Intergenerational Dialogue on Entrepreneurial Challenges & Opportunities” explored emerging business opportunities, entrepreneurial challenges, mentorship, and collaboration between experienced business leaders and younger entrepreneurs.

Another major session, titled “Bridging Academia, Finance & Industry: Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem for Pakistan,” brought together former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan; State Bank of Pakistan Rawalpindi Chief Manager Rizwan Shamsi; HEC Member Research and Development Professor 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.

The speakers highlighted the importance of access to finance, commercialisation of research, protection of intellectual property rights, and stronger partnerships among universities, industry, and financial institutions to build a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem in Pakistan.

A major attraction of YES Pakistan 2026 was its innovation expo, featuring more than 30 stalls showcasing innovative ideas, projects, products, and emerging business ventures. Universities and institutions from across Pakistan, including representation from Gilgit-Baltistan, participated in the exhibition.

Air University, Riphah International University, Aror University, and other institutions contributed to the platform, providing opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing, and collaboration among students and emerging entrepreneurs.

The three-day event enabled students and aspiring entrepreneurs to enhance their business skills, present innovative ideas, interact with industry professionals, and learn from experienced business leaders. The YES Pakistan Awards recognised entrepreneurial achievements and highlighted the role of innovation in business development.

The concluding ceremony featured the distribution of prizes and commemorative shields. Participants expressed hope that initiatives of this nature would help strengthen youth entrepreneurship, create employment opportunities, encourage investment, and contribute to Pakistan’s sustainable economic development.