Lahore, Pakistan – Future Fest 2025, held at the Expo Center Lahore from January 24-26, celebrated Pakistan’s rising tech stars with the NICAT Innovation Awards. The event, in collaboration with the National Incubation Center for Aerospace Technologies (NICAT), recognized individuals pushing the boundaries of emerging technologies across diverse sectors.
NICAT emphasized their search for “exceptional individuals… who have demonstrated groundbreaking innovation, delivered impactful solutions, and made significant contributions to their fields.” Out of over 450 aspiring leaders, a distinguished jury panel comprised of industry leaders including Muhammad Umar (CEO at Relymert), Mehroz Azam (COO at EjadLabs), Syed Ali Mehdi (CFO at DeafTalk), and , Umair Arshad (Founding Member at PEA) selected the award recipients.
The following individuals were honored for their contributions:
- Tabinda Islam – Arfa Kareem Foundation
- Mudaser Iqbal – TheHash
- Waleed Najam – Rankistan
- Rana Umar Majeed – Datics AI
- Vikram Kumar – SharkLabs
- Yasir Shaukat – Techleadz
The awards ceremony featured Dr. Amjad Saqib, development practitioner, philanthropist, and founder of Akhuwat, the world’s largest interest-free microfinance program, as the honorable chief guest. A distinguished guest from KPK, Dr. Shafqat Ayaz, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Science and Technology, mentioned that the presence of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority at the award ceremony would be beneficial.
NICAT’s support for Pakistan’s startup ecosystem is crucial, providing resources, mentorship, and industry connections. Their collaboration with Future Fest underscores a shared commitment to fostering innovation. The awards recognized contributions across various sectors, including Artificial Intelligence, SaaS, E-commerce, Blockchain, Health, and Finance.
Organizers congratulated all the winners, highlighting their dedication and hard work. Future Fest and NICAT reaffirmed their commitment to supporting future generations of tech innovators in Pakistan
