Karachi: Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI, has apprised that Syed Murad Ali Shah, CM Sindh, inaugurated the Sindh Innovative Startups Exhibition 2025 at Federation House, Karachi – aimed at promoting indigenous business ideas; industry-academia linkages; emerging technologies; import substitution solutions; technologically-driven business & economic development and ecosystem of tech entrepreneurship in the country.
Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh elaborated that, at FPCCI, we believe that the future of Pakistan’s economy lies in innovation, entrepreneurship and knowledge-based collaboration. The time has come for industry to open its doors to academia — not just as a partner; but, as a driver of future growth and competitiveness.
FPCCI Chief also acknowledged the tireless efforts of Prof. Dr. Tariq Rafi, Chairman Sindh HEC, for pushing the boundaries of academic impact beyond the classroom and into the economy and Ms. Maheen Salman, Convener of FPCCI’s Central Standing Committee on Higher Education, Science & Technology, for envisioning and executing the exhibition with clarity, energy and purpose.
Syed Murad Ali Shah, CM Sindh, reiterated his government’s support for universities and their R&D initiatives as it is the only sustainable way forward for creating a robust economic environment in Sindh through capitalizing the potential of youth in a constructive and productive manner. He highlighted that Sindh allocates the most funds for the universities among all provinces.
CM Sindh appreciated FPCCI’s leadership role as the apex trade and industry body; and, its role in bringing industry, academia and government together. Additionally, he sought FPCCI’s role in investments into the technology startups in the province through matchmaking.
Mr. Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, SVP FPCCI, explained that industries lead the innovation all over the world with the help of universities as industry can determine the real-world needs and market-driven use of technologies.
Prof. Dr. Tariq Rafi, Chairman of Sindh HEC, stressed that the exhibition is a major initiative that SHEC and FPCCI have worked on together. We’ve previously launched the Sindh Research Support Program and organized events spotlighting university-based inventions. However, all these prior efforts have been aimed at bringing local solutions to local industries — and ultimately, to move our universities towards greater self-reliance by transforming research into opportunity. Today’s exhibition is the manifestation of that vision, he added.
Mr. Aman Paracha, VP FPCCI, noted that FPCCI, Sindh Higher Education Commission (SHEC) and Government of Sindh (GoS) jointly organized the first-of-its-kind technology showcase in the country; which can very well be a starting point to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship culture in the country.
Mr. Asif Sakhi, VP FPCCI, added that Sindh Innovative Startups Exhibition 2025 featured 50 creative technology projects from universities across Sindh in diverse sector and verticals; including, industrial automation, textiles, agri-tech, climate technologies, IT, healthcare and food sciences.
