The YES Summit, Expo & Startup Competition 2026 was inaugurated at Bahria University Islamabad on October 21, bringing together policymakers, academic leaders, industry representatives, entrepreneurs and social innovators to promote leadership, innovation and youth entrepreneurship.
Syeda Amna Batool, Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and Focal Person to the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, attended the inaugural ceremony as chief guest. Vice Admiral Abid Hameed HI(M), Rector of Bahria University, welcomed the participating guests and highlighted the importance of collaboration among academia, industry and the entrepreneurial community.
The mega initiative is being organised in collaboration with the HEC Task Force on Business Incubation Centres (BICs), OIC-COMSTECH and other universities and organisations. Representatives of the Higher Education Commission also participated, while Dr Javaid Laghari, Chairman of the HEC Task Force on Business Incubation Centres, and Dr Habib Boukhari addressed the gathering.
Speakers stressed the need to strengthen academia-industry linkages, encourage innovation-driven entrepreneurship and develop a stronger ecosystem for startups and young business leaders. They also acknowledged the efforts of Murtaza Noor, Founder of YES Pakistan, for bringing universities, industry leaders, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders together on a common platform.
The summit featured keynote and panel discussions covering leadership, technological innovation, entrepreneurship, the role of universities in business development and women’s participation in economic growth.
Dr Shoab A. Khan, Chairman of P@SHA, delivered the keynote address, sharing insights into effective leadership, technological innovation and the changing entrepreneurial landscape.
A panel titled “Leadership, Innovation & Lessons from Leading CEOs” brought together Pervaiz Abbassi, CEO of ADVentures; Muhammad Adnan Mukhtar, Convener of the FPCCI Academia-Industry Committee; and Moazzam Shahbaz, CEO of NAQEEBZ. The panel explored leadership experiences, innovative business strategies and lessons from the corporate sector.
Another session, “Universities as Catalysts for Future Entrepreneurship,” examined how higher education institutions can nurture entrepreneurial thinking, support startups and strengthen innovation ecosystems. The panel included Vice Admiral Engr. Abid Hameed HI(M) (Retd), Rector 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, University of Okara; and Prof. Dr Shahzad Khan, Vice Chancellor of the Health Services Academy.
The summit also spotlighted women entrepreneurs through a panel titled “Women Driving Innovation & Entrepreneurship.” 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, discussed women’s entrepreneurial journeys, leadership and their contribution to innovation and economic development.
The YES Summit, Expo & Startup Competition 2026 seeks to strengthen connections between universities, business incubation centres, industry, investors and entrepreneurs. It also provides young innovators and emerging businesses with opportunities to showcase their ideas, build professional networks and explore pathways for sustainable growth.
Related: Young Entrepreneurs Are Heading to Islamabad for YES 2026
The event highlighted the growing need for coordinated efforts among government, academia, industry and the entrepreneurial sector to empower Pakistan’s youth, accelerate innovation and build a more dynamic, knowledge-driven economy.
