On July 11, 2025, the National Incubation Center for Aerospace Technologies (NICAT), in partnership with DEMO Pakistan (SPIN-IDG), hosted an engaging session titled “Growth Hacks for Data-Driven Decisions: An Economic & Enterprise Use Case Vantage.” Held at NICAT Rawalpindi, the event brought together policymakers, technologists, enterprise leaders, and founders to explore how data is reshaping the future of business and national development.
The afternoon opened with remarks from Ayub Ghauri, President NICAT, who emphasized the Center’s mission to cultivate an innovation-led ecosystem capable of generating research, new ventures, and impactful technological solutions. He highlighted that data is quickly becoming the core asset driving growth, efficiency, and competitiveness—not just for businesses, but for entire economies.
One of the most compelling moments came from the fireside chat with Dr. Naeem Zafar, Chief Statistician of Pakistan and the lead architect behind the country’s first digital census. Drawing from this monumental national project, Dr. Zafar discussed how digitization and integrated data systems are revolutionizing public services and policy development. A country that adopts a data-first approach, he noted, becomes inherently “smarter, faster, and more inclusive,” capable of making decisions that reflect real needs and real opportunities.
This set the stage for a dynamic panel moderated by Aqsa Tariq, Editor-in-Chief at DEMO Pakistan/SPIN-IDG, who guided a conversation on building a culture of data-backed decision-making across sectors. The panel featured Dr. Monis Akhlaq (NADRA), Faisal Jameel (MD LMKR), Ziyad Mehtab (CCO, Commtel), and Nayab Babar (Chief Investment Officer, Pakistan Startup Fund), with additional insights from experts across policy, enterprise, and innovation.
Each speaker brought a unique lens. Dr. Monis underscored the importance of trust and interoperability as national priorities for any modern data infrastructure. Faisal highlighted the rising significance of geospatial analytics for industries such as energy and urban planning. Ziyad spoke about how secure, reliable infrastructure is essential for innovation at scale, while Nayab shared how data helps the Pakistan Startup Fund de-risk investment decisions and identify high-potential ventures. Together, the panel painted a vivid picture: Pakistan’s ability to compete in the global digital economy depends on breaking down data silos, improving governance frameworks, and enabling businesses and public institutions alike to make evidence-based decisions.
The event also spotlighted local innovation through the NICAT Startup Showcase, featuring NaqshaGPT, a startup advancing AI-driven solutions for mapping and urban development. Their work illustrated how entrepreneurs are using data to solve deeply local challenges with global potential.
In closing, Shayan Yar, Project Director at NICAT, reiterated the need for a data-literate entrepreneurial ecosystem—one that sees data not as raw numbers, but as strategic input for smarter products, policies, and business models. As attendees gathered afterward for networking and hi-tea, the conversations echoed a shared understanding: data is no longer a nice-to-have; it is the foundation of Pakistan’s next growth chapter.
This event, produced by DEMO Academy on behalf of DEMO Pakistan under the Smart Pakistan Insights Network (SPIN) umbrella, reflected the collective momentum building across Pakistan’s tech and innovation landscape. The message was clear and consistent throughout the afternoon’s discussions: data isn’t just shaping the future, it is enabling the future. And those who embrace it early will define the trajectory of Pakistan’s economic and enterprise transformation.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
