*ISLAMABAD – This year, Pakistan has received six mentions in the Forbes 30Under 30 Asia 2019 list.*
Forbes said 300 “entrepreneurs and game-changers, representing 23 countriesand territories in the Asia-Pacific region” were selected for the list whostood out among several people . “From innovating in technology anddisrupting age-old industries to demonstrating immense talent anddominating the world stage (cue in Naomi Osaka), this group of young starsshines in more ways than one,” the magazine said.
Here are the Pakistanis and a local start-up which made it to the list:
*1. Ahmed Rauf Essa*
Ahmed Rauf Essa co-founded Telemart, which Forbes describes as “one of thelargest e-commerce platforms in Pakistan, while in business school at theage of 23”.
“Outside of B2C, the company also has an extensive wholesale channel whichcaters to more than 500 dealers online, and is an end-to-end solutionsprovider for major firms such as P&G, Lucky Cement and Ufone,” it said.
*2. Karishma Ali*
Karishma Ali, who belongs to Chitral, “is the first girl from her hometownto have played football at a national and international level”, accordingto Forbes. She has represented Pakistan at the Jubilee Games in Dubai, andher team was the first women’s team from Pakistan to participate in the AFLInternational Cup. Ali is also the founder of the Chitral Women’s SportsClub.
*3. Laila Kasuri*
Laila Kasuri is currently a water analyst with Global Green GrowthInvestment’s Policy Solutions Division and has led research atorganizations such as the World Bank, the US Army Corps of Engineers, andthe UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences on climate-smart irrigation,flood risk reduction, and river basin planning.
“As climate change takes its toll on the developing word, water specialistslike Laila Kasuri are becoming increasingly important in taking apreventative approach to sustainability,” Forbes noted.
*4. Zainab Bibi*
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Zainab Bibi established the Pakistan Society for Green Energy in 2013 todevelop new methods of renewable energy.
So far, the company has successfully developed a bio-fuel from waste tissuepaper, and introduced Camelina Sativa, a drought-resistant plant that canbe made into bio-diesel, Forbes stated.
In 2016, Bibi was honoured with a Queen’s Young Leaders Award for hersuccess in creating public support in Pakistan for environmentally friendlyinitiatives.
*5. Zain Ashraf Mughal*
Zain Ashraf is the founder of Seed Out, Pakistan’s first crowdfundingplatform that works to end poverty by establishing entrepreneurs withinterest-free micro financing.
According to the company, Seed Out has helped 538 locals raise funding.
In 2018, Ashraf won the Commonwealth Youth Award for his efforts indevelopment work.
*6. Roshni Rides*
Roshni Rides is a women’s friendly carpooling platform for commuters basedin Pakistan and founded by Hanaa Lakhani, Hasan Usmani,Gia Farooqi andMoneeb Mian.
The company arranges affordable rickshaw rides along designated routesbetween a refugee camp and common destinations such as markets andhospitals, Forbes said. The idea helped Roshni Rides win the $1 millionHult Prize in 2017, and the team are now focused on working with companiesto provide safe rides for female employees in the country.
