A significant milestone in the evolution of Pakistan’s entrepreneurial landscape was marked today with the launch of the Pakistan Startup Policy Brief – “Closing the Funding Gap for Startups in Pakistan.” The launch event, held at Telenor Pakistan’s headquarters ‘345’ in Gulberg Greens, Islamabad, was a collaborative effort by Telenor Pakistan, Invest2Innovate (i2i) and the Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA), with strong support from Telenor Velocity, Ignite and VISA.
The policy brief lays out a comprehensive reform roadmap to strengthen Pakistan’s startup ecosystem, drawing on global best practices and extensive stakeholder consultation. It focuses on four high-impact priority areas: Enabling growth through regulatory and tax reforms; expanding access to diverse and flexible funding instruments; creating exit and liquidity pathways via capital markets, and building a robust entrepreneurial support ecosystem. These targeted reforms aim to unlock domestic and international capital, bridge the funding gap, and accelerate sustainable growth in the startup sector.
The event was attended by Syed Nadir Hussain Shah, Project Director IT & Telecom, Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) along with Khurrum Ashfaque, CEO, Telenor Pakistan; Sarah Munir, CEO, Invest2Innovate; Hamza Saeed Orakzai, Chief Market Development Officer, STZA; Bilal Abbasi, General Manager, Ignite; Zeeshan Khattak, Commissioner SECP; Ali Aamir, Head of Government Engagement, Visa Pakistan and senior representatives of partner and supporting organizations.
Speaking at the event, Khurrum Ashfaque, CEO Telenor Pakistan, said, “Funding is the lifeblood of young firms—timely, flexible funding helps startups scale, attract global partners, and tap into Pakistan’s growing digital economy. This Startup Policy Brief is a vital step toward building a strong and sustainable innovation ecosystem.”
Syed Nadir Hussain Shah, Project Director IT & Telecom, SIFC, also praised the joint initiative and pledged continued institutional support: “This policy brief presents actionable insights aligned with Pakistan’s economic priorities. SIFC is keen to facilitate collaborative efforts that spur innovation, attract investment and position Pakistan as a regional technology hub.”
Sarah Munir, CEO, Invest2Innovate said, “Closing Pakistan’s startup funding gap isn’t just about more capital – it’s about building the right foundations for it to flow. This brief offers a clear roadmap to strengthen investor trust and unlock local and global funding.”
Pakistan’s startup ecosystem has grown rapidly, led by fintech, e-commerce, logistics, and mobility ventures creating thousands of high-skilled jobs. Startup funding peaked at USD 355 million in 2022, positioning the country as a rising VC destination. E-commerce hit USD 5.2 billion in 2023, and IT exports reached USD 3.2 billion in FY24. However, startup investment has dropped sharply—down 88% by 2024—highlighting an urgent need for policy reform.
Hamza Saeed, Chief Market Development Officer, STZA, lauded the efforts of all the partners supporting the launch of the policy brief and emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in supporting the growth of startups in the country: “The Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) was established in 2021 to enable hi-tech innovation, and since inception the Authority has worked closely with key stakeholders from industry, government, and academia to address the challenges faced by startups. This brief highlights the importance of startups in generating economic value through human capital development and job creation and proposes collaborative steps to develop appropriate policy mechanisms that support innovation.”
The launch of the Pakistan Startup Policy Brief marks a pivotal step toward an innovation-driven economy, with public-private collaboration at its core. This initiative signals a unified commitment to empower startups, attract capital, and turn Pakistan into a thriving hub for digital entrepreneurship.
