National Incubation Center Karachi, an Ignite initiative under the Ministry of IT & Telecom, marked a significant milestone as it hosted the graduation ceremony of 30 startups from its 12th Cohort while celebrating its first anniversary. The event brought together government leaders, investors, and stakeholders from the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Federal Minister for IT & Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja attended as the Chief Guest, accompanied by Rafique Ahmed Buriro, CEO Ignite, and Asim Ishaq Khan, Vice President LMKT, along with prominent industry leaders and startup founders. The gathering underscored the role NIC Karachi continues to play in fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation across Pakistan.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to the Prime Minister’s Digital Nation Vision, noting that the graduation of startups from NIC Karachi reflects the entrepreneurial potential of Pakistan’s youth. She highlighted that these young innovators are contributing to job creation, reshaping industries, and showcasing Pakistan’s capacity to produce globally relevant solutions. She reiterated that the Ministry of IT & Telecom, under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, remains dedicated to empowering youth and building a knowledge-based digital economy by nurturing such ecosystems nationwide.
Rafique Ahmed Buriro, CEO Ignite, described NIC Karachi as an example of how public-private partnerships can transform entrepreneurship in the country. He said Ignite will continue to promote distributed innovation, ensuring startups from all regions gain access to mentorship, support, and resources to grow their businesses. Asim Ishaq Khan, Vice President LMKT, praised the progress NIC Karachi has achieved under the new consortium of partners YBG and Orbit Startups, pointing out that the achievements of Cohort 12 demonstrate how a supportive ecosystem and investor access can enable Pakistani startups to attain global competitiveness.
The ceremony celebrated the creativity and resilience of the 30 graduating startups, which are now poised to expand their solutions both locally and internationally. Alumni success stories were shared as evidence of how NIC Karachi’s support translates into job creation, revenue generation, and industry impact. Since its inception, NIC Karachi has incubated more than 375 startups, created over one million jobs, generated more than PKR 10 billion in revenue, and raised over PKR 12 billion in investment. With the combined expertise of its consortium partners, NIC Karachi continues to provide free-of-cost incubation, mentorship, investor access, legal and financial advisory, and advanced labs in fintech, industrial automation, and media. This latest graduation reaffirms the government’s resolve to enable youth through technology and innovation under the broader vision of a knowledge-driven digital economy.
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