The first National Convention of Campus-Based Entrepreneurial Societies was held at FAST National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (FAST-NUCES) Islamabad, bringing together student entrepreneurs, faculty advisors and representatives of around 30 leading universities from across Pakistan.
The convention focused on strengthening campus entrepreneurship, promoting innovation and creating stronger links between universities, industry, financial institutions and investors.
Prof Dr Habib Boukhari, Member Research & Development and Academics at the Higher Education Commission (HEC), attended as chief guest. Senior academics and representatives from HEC, universities and the State Bank of Pakistan also participated in the event.
The convention was organized ahead of the Young Entrepreneurs, CEOs and Innovators Summit, Expo and Awards 2026, or YES-Pakistan, scheduled for October 20–22 in Islamabad. The initiative seeks to expand opportunities for student entrepreneurs through business incubation, mentorship, financing and industry engagement.
Prof. Dr. Wasim Shahzad, Director of the FAST-NUCES Islamabad Campus, stressed the importance of creating an environment where students can turn innovative ideas into sustainable businesses. Muhammad Murtaza Noor, National Coordinator of IUCPSS and Founder of YES-Pakistan, called for a strong national network connecting campus entrepreneurial societies with incubation centres, investors, financial institutions, industry and successful business leaders.
A keynote session titled “From Campus Innovation to Global Impact: Building Pakistan’s AI-Driven Entrepreneurial Future” was delivered by Bilal Faruqi, Founder of MindHYVE.ai. The session highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence, technology and innovation in creating new entrepreneurial opportunities for young Pakistanis.
The convention also featured discussions on women entrepreneurship, student success stories, corporate engagement and the role of campus-based entrepreneurial societies. Panel discussions examined how universities can build high-impact entrepreneurial societies and establish stronger connections between student entrepreneurs and the corporate sector.
Participants emphasized that universities need to move beyond traditional academic education by equipping students with entrepreneurial, digital, leadership and employability skills while expanding access to mentorship, incubation and financing.
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The convention concluded with a commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s campus entrepreneurship ecosystem and expanding university-industry collaboration ahead of YES-Pakistan 2026 in Islamabad.
