Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) has awarded a Cleantech/EnergyTech Grant to the LUMS Centre for Entrepreneurship (LCE), establishing a dedicated space within its co-working facility to foster innovation in sustainable energy solutions. This initiative aims to support start-ups focused on cleantech, enabling them to tackle local and global climate challenges.
The newly established OGDCL Energy and Cleantech Zone at LCE will serve as a hub for research, collaboration, and innovation. Selected start-ups will gain access to workspaces, mentorship, and industry expertise, aligning with LCE’s mission to drive entrepreneurship in high-impact areas such as AI-driven energy solutions, cleantech, and sustainability.
The partnership was officially announced at a ceremony held at the LUMS Vice Chancellor’s Office, attended by senior representatives from both organisations. OGDCL was represented by Mr Ahmed Hayat Lak, MD/CEO; Mr Shahzad Safdar, Executive Director HR/Admin; Mr Talat Haider, Chief Incharge Oil and Gas Training Institute; Mr Zeeshan Haider, Manager External Communications; Mr Omair Kamran, Senior Training Coordinator; and Mr Raja Sami Haris, Human Resource Officer. Representing LUMS and LCE were Dr Ali Cheema, Vice Chancellor, LUMS; Ms Nuzhat Kamran, Director, Office of Advancement; Prof. Nauman Ahmad Zaffar, Faculty Lead, Cleantech Projects; and Mr Jazib Zahir, Director, LCE.
Speaking about the collaboration, Mr Zahir highlighted its significance, stating, “The OGDCL partnership marks a significant milestone for LUMS and the Centre for Entrepreneurship. We share common goals in innovation, AI, cleantech, and training. OGDCL’s support is crucial to sustaining and expanding our Centre’s impact into new strategic areas.”
Echoing this sentiment, Mr Lak outlined OGDCL’s vision behind the initiative, saying, “At OGDCL, we understand the critical need for sustainable energy solutions. Partnering with LCE allows us to nurture the next generation of cleantech innovators. By investing in entrepreneurship, we are fostering a culture of research-driven problem-solving that will benefit Pakistan’s energy sector and beyond.”
Following the ceremony, the OGDCL delegation toured the LCE facilities, including the Makers Lab, where they observed the entrepreneurial potential of the start-ups currently incubated at LCE.
Looking ahead, LCE is eager to explore further collaborations with public and private organisations, aiming to empower entrepreneurs and drive innovative solutions that will create lasting impacts both in Pakistan and globally.