The Entrepreneurial Mindset: Skills Pakistani Students Need Beyond Academic Degrees

By Afreen Zehra

Pakistan produces roughly 800,000 graduates annually, these are young men and women with university degrees entering the job market or selecting post-graduation qualifications that they would like to pursue.

Employment generation, however, continues to be a persistent challenge. We lose the best of them to available opportunities abroad and the ones who stay back either grab any opportunity that comes along or suffer from delayed success.

Stagnation is a two fold process coming in the wake of bursting population and slowing down industrial expansion as well as the disruption of AI that is fast enriching on basic and middle level work fields.  Labor is heavily impacted too, our skilled labor that defined eligibility on physical capacity is now victim to lack of understanding of digital literacy and maneuvering of robotics.

Universities while preparing students for employment, can consider country’s economic realities that demand entrepreneurship, innovation, and self-employment. In fact, entrepreneurship is a solid way forward for creating more employment opportunities in an otherwise stagnating realm.

Academic institutions, while overhauling their approach, can equip students to create newer fields of work. By fostering entrepreneurial thinking, universities can contribute to economic growth, stimulate exports, strengthen local manufacturing, and create new avenues for income generation. Such a shift would represent a significant step forward in Pakistan’s journey toward sustainable economic development.

An encouraging example of this transformation can be seen in Habib University’s entrepreneurial culture, which has inspired numerous graduates to launch their startups. Their ventures span technology, agriculture, renewable energy, waste management, financial inclusion, accessibility, marketing, and immersive technologies, demonstrating how young entrepreneurs are addressing some of Pakistan’s most pressing challenges. Among them is Computer Science alumnus, Furqan Karim Kidwai, co-founder of Plouton AI.

Understanding each in a little depth showcases how well aligned these young men and women are with the economic realities; Plouton AI is helping businesses automate complex financial operations through intelligent browser-based agents. The platform performs tasks such as payroll preparation, reconciliation, and financial reporting across systems including NetSuite, Xero, QuickBooks, and Excel, without requiring traditional API integrations. Designed for mid-market and enterprise finance teams, the solution streamlines compliance, data management, and human oversight while significantly reducing manual effort and increasing operational efficiency.

Habab Idrees co-founded Farmevo, a technology-driven platform that utilizes autonomous sensing and drone-based intelligence to improve agricultural and industrial operations. The company’s software plans and executes autonomous drone missions, captures high-quality imagery, and converts data into actionable insights through artificial intelligence and machine learning. By remaining hardware-agnostic and user-friendly, Farmevo enables organizations to leverage advanced technology without requiring specialized technical expertise.

Digital transformation remains another critical area of growth for Pakistani businesses. Recognizing this need, Syed Ahsan Ahmed, founded Anomoz Softwares, a company dedicated to addressing organizations’ digital requirements. From website development to fully customized customer relationship management systems and business process solutions, the startup helps enterprises modernize their operations and strengthen their digital presence.

Anusha Fatima co-founded TrashIt, a waste recovery and composting enterprise operating across Karachi, Hyderabad, Bahawalpur, and Gharo. With an existing production capacity of 20 tons per month and the launch of a European Union-funded Agri Waste Recovery Hub in District Thatta, the company is advancing sustainable waste management practices while contributing to environmental conservation.

Technology is also playing a transformative role in improving accessibility and inclusion. Arhum Ishtiaq, who grew up with deaf parents, co-founded ConnectHear to address communication barriers faced by persons with disabilities. Today, ConnectHear has become South Asia’s largest disability technology platform and is expanding internationally. By leveraging artificial intelligence and innovative communication tools, the company enables independent access to information and communication, improving quality of life and facilitating greater economic participation for people with disabilities.

Electrical engineering alumnus Osama Rizwan co-founded OneWatt Energy, a renewable energy and engineering services company focused on accelerating clean energy adoption through solar photovoltaic installations and sustainable energy solutions. The venture contributes to Pakistan’s efforts to reduce energy shortages while promoting environmental sustainability.

Habib’s recent Communication and Design graduate Omer Intesar co-founded O Marketing, a company that delivers customized marketing solutions aimed at accelerating product adoption, strengthening brand equity, and driving business growth. By combining creativity, technology, and strategic insight, the firm helps organizations improve both marketing effectiveness and sales performance.

Recognizing the need for financial inclusion, Syed Affan Aslam co-founded Ping Up, a financial services platform designed to provide accessible investment opportunities and financial literacy tools. Similarly, Electrical Engineering graduate Muhammad Hasham Qazi co-founded FortunaXR, a company specializing in virtual and augmented reality solutions. Serving sectors such as education, training, tourism, and entertainment, FortunaXR develops immersive experiences that enhance learning outcomes, improve workforce training, and create engaging digital environments.

The reason for elaborating on the startups was majorly to share how the concerns from the evolving environment have been picked up and selected for revenue generation and employability. This is the forward thinking that must be showcased on the higher education platform. Pakistan needs its education sector to align with the needs of its economic challenges.