National Incubation Center (NIC) Karachi launched by Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Friday, May 11, 2018 at NED University, Karachi. National Incubation Center (NIC) Karachi Program that has been designed and funded by Ministry of Information & Telecom, in collaboration with Ignite – National Technology Fund.

Housed in a new, exclusive building at NED University Karachi, the incubator will be operated by a consortium comprising LMKT, PTCL, NED, HBL and Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF).

Gratitude to all who made it possible, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for not just gracing the occasion, but also regaling an enthralled audience with anecdotes and quips including about his old friend Wasim Akhter, Mayor Karachi, who was also in attendance. The PM chose this venue, rather than the floor of the national assembly, to announce a landmark IT incentive package, on which the final touches were put by Federal Ministers Anusha Rahman and Miftah Ismail on the plane ride from Islamabad, culminating many months of deliberations between Ministries of IT and Finance, P@SHA and the industry.

While speaking on the occasion Mrs. Anusha Rahman – Federal Minister for IT & Telecom said that NIC Karachi is the next rung in our Digital-Pakistan indicatives, which are built on a new nationwide digital broadband infrastructure, and offer multiple opportunities for youth.

The CEO of Ignite – Yusuf Hussain said that NIC Karachi is a world class incubator that will create startups that become engines of economic growth and social transformation.

Mr. Muhammed Aurangzeb, President & CEO, HBL during his remarks at the event said, HBL is proud to partner with Ignite to foster a culture of innovation by enabling Pakistani startups to bring their dreams and ideas to life. We believe these start-ups can contribute to help solve some of the challenges faced by banks. This partnership is aligned with our vision to be Pakistan’s most innovative financial service company. With this partnership with NIC Karachi, we aim to combine the strengths of both ecosystems for the success of entrepreneurs across the state.

NIC Karachi will become a pro-innovation hub and business-accelerator. We will help identify and nurture promising technology startups, and together we can help them succeed through our collaborative efforts. Our in-house innovation platforms, such as Makers Labs, Innovation Labs, Design Lab and Fintech Lab will foster a unique partnership between world-class enterprises and promising start-ups. We aim to co-create newer, disruptive solutions that can positively impact client business, addressing their future challenges, today said the Project Director, NIC Karachi – Shahjahan Chaudhary.

The PM and Miftah were clearly enthused by NIC Founders Sara Qureshi, Aero Craft Engine, Suniya Sadullah Khan MauqaOnline , Shayan Sohail Sarwar Pak Vitae, and Farrah Arif, EdTech Worx. As they were with local eCommerce founders, who returned from an Alibaba accelerator couple of months back Anum Kamran, Buyon.pk, Furquan Kidwai, Dawaai.pk , and Komail Abbas Naqvi, FindMyAdventure.pk. These are the real VIP, of course this is why these NIC have been launched so the founders can go out and solve problems facing this country and spur economic and employment growth.

Ministry of IT Officials, Mudassar Hussain and Muhammad Tahir Mushtaq, other Ignite Board Members, Akbar Shaukat and Shahid Qureshi, and corporate, finance and tech stalwarts like Jehan Ara, whose support to NIC is essential, were also present at the event.

NIC Karachi will house startups and connect them with mentors, investors, and new business opportunities. It will also offer a 12-week long experiential-learning program that will have a motivational impact on aspiring entrepreneurs, with the help of a network of mentors and leaders engaged from the country’s leading businesses and communities. Additional value is provided by one-on-one intensive coaching, a peer-cohort model and access to partners and partnership programs. NIC Karachi will pursue the same strategy for success, achieved at NIC in Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar, which have already attained operational stability over the last year.