Seven Pakistanis that made it to Forbes’ 30 under 30

The Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia list celebrates 300 young entrepreneurs and innovators under the age of 30, who have transformed their respective industries across the Asia-Pacific region.

Among those honoured are Pakistan’s Sarkhail Shahid Bawany, (ABHI), Adeel Abid (Linkstar), Aizaz Nayyer (Linkstar), Ali Raza (Linkstar), Aleena Nadeem (EduFi), Kasra Zunnaiyyer (Trukkr) and Bushra Sultan (artist).

ABHI - Sarkhail Shahid Bawany

The Head of Product at ABHI, Sarkhail Shahid Bawany’s project empowers workers to withdraw a percentage of their salary before their next paycheck when they need emergency cash. Sarkhail stated in an interview with ProPakistani, “I am immensely honoured and humbled to be included in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list. This accomplishment signifies not only a personal milestone but also highlights the remarkable talent and potential within Pakistan. It’s a source of pride for me to represent my country on such a prestigious platform, and I’m deeply grateful for the support and encouragement from my community and colleagues at ABHI. This recognition serves as powerful motivation for me to continue aiming for excellence and making meaningful contributions to Pakistan’s growth and innovation on the global stage”. Sarkhail’s company has now expanded to the Middle East and Bangladesh.

Adeel Abid, Aizaz Nayyer, and Ali Raza - Linkstar

Adeel Abid, Aizaz Nayyer, and Ali Raza are the co founders of the Karachi-based platform for freelancers, Linkstar. The company helps freelancers create free portfolio websites which can then be upgraded over time using advanced functionalities provided by them. Co founder, Ali Raza credited this victory to his team’s hard work. “This is a validation of the incredible work that our team has put in over the last three years, but it is just a small milestone on our journey. We’re keeping our heads down and staying focused on our path to uplift young talent across the MENAP region.”

Aleena Nadeem - EduFi

“Study Now, Pay Later” is EduFi’s motto, a Lahore-based startup run by Aleena Nadeem. The company’s primary focus is to help more Pakistanis fund university. EduFi has partnered with 27 colleges in the country who carry out credit-vetting, then pay the tuition fees for approved students. These students can then repay the loan on a monthly basis as they study.

Kasra Zunnaiyyer - Trukkr

Zunnaiyyer is the co founder and CTO of Karachi-based Trukkr, which developed a management platform for Pakistan's logistics sector. Established in 2020, the startup allows users to obtain financing, track their fleets and connect with customers. As it is one of the first digital services targeting the country's small and medium sized trucking companies, Trukkr has caught the attention of global investors.

Bushra Sultan - Artist

Bushra Sultan, a Lahore-based filmmaker, production designer and creative director, focuses on challenging societal constraints on women. Her notable works include the 'Guria' campaign for Demesne Couture and the 'Chimera' campaign, both addressing women's issues in Pakistan.

There were over 4000 candidates for Forbes Asia to comb through, so being chosen is a considerable feat, yet deserved. Forbes filtered their selections based on funding, revenue, social impact, scale, inventiveness, and potential. Other top performers on the coveted list included companies delivering IT solutions for healthcare, logistics and manufacturing, and more from other industries.

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