Islamabad (GNP): 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 office-bearers of student entrepreneurial societies, young entrepreneurs, faculty advisors and representatives from around 30 leading universities of Pakistan.
Prof. Dr. Habib Boukhari, Member Research & Development and Academics, Higher Education Commission (HEC), was the Chief Guest, while Prof. Dr. Ali Nasir, Advisor HEC, Dr. Abdul Basit, Chancellor Preston University; Prof. Dr. Tayyaba Zarif, Vice Chancellor Rawalpindi Women University; Rizwan Khaleel Shamsi, Chief Manager, State Bank of Pakistan, Rawalpindi Office; and Dr. Awais Mehmood, Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, Bahria University Islamabad, were among the distinguished guests of honour.
The convention was organized in connection with the forthcoming YES-Pakistan, Young Entrepreneurs, CEOs and Innovators Summit, Expo and Awards 2026, scheduled to be held from October 20–22, 2026, in Islamabad. The initiative aims to promote entrepreneurship, innovation, business incubation, and stronger linkages between universities, industry, and the corporate sector.
The event was organized in collaboration with the HEC Task Force on Business Incubation Centres (BICs), State Bank of Pakistan, HEC Vice-Chancellors Forum of Federal Universities and Universities from Rawalpindi, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and other partner organizations.
Prof. Dr. Wasim Shahzad, Director FAST-NUCES Islamabad Campus, welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of creating an enabling environment for students to transform innovative ideas into sustainable entrepreneurial ventures.
Muhammad Murtaza Noor, National Coordinator IUCPSS and Founder of YES-Pakistan, shared the objectives of the convention and emphasized the need to establish a strong national network of campus-based entrepreneurial societies and connect student entrepreneurs with universities, incubation centres, industry, financial institutions, investors and successful business leaders.
The keynote session, titled “From Campus Innovation to Global Impact: Building Pakistan’s AI-Driven Entrepreneurial Future,” was delivered by Bilal Faruqi, Founder, MindHYVE.ai. He highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, innovation, and technology-driven entrepreneurship for Pakistan’s youth.
The convention featured interactive sessions on women entrepreneurship, student success stories, corporate engagement, and the role of campus entrepreneurial societies in shaping Pakistan’s entrepreneurial future.
A panel discussion on “Building a High-Impact Entrepreneurial Society” brought together academic and student affairs experts, while another panel on “Connecting Entrepreneurial Societies with the Corporate World” explored opportunities for stronger engagement between student entrepreneurs, financial institutions, industry and corporate leaders.
The event was attended by office-bearers and young entrepreneurs from around 30 leading universities of Pakistan, providing an important platform for networking, exchange of ideas, and exploration of collaborative opportunities.
The speakers stressed the need for universities to go beyond traditional academic education by equipping students with entrepreneurial, digital, leadership, and employability skills while providing greater access to mentorship, incubation, financing, and industry linkages.
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The convention concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s ecosystem for campus entrepreneurship, innovation, and university-industry collaboration as part of the broader activities leading up to YES-Pakistan 2026, scheduled for October 20–22 in Islamabad.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
