Dr Rizwan Riaz, Pro-Rector for Research, Innovation and Commercialization at National University of Sciences and Technology, met with Tariq Khan, President of OPEN Global, the Organization of Pakistani Entrepreneurs, to explore opportunities for strengthening collaboration and expanding global linkages for Pakistan’s innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem. The meeting brought together leadership from one of Pakistan’s leading research universities and a global network representing Pakistani entrepreneurs operating internationally.
The meeting was also attended by Sidra Jalil, President of OPEN Islamabad, and Salman Beg, President of OPEN Karachi, giving the discussion representation from both of the organisation’s major Pakistani chapters alongside its global leadership. Their combined presence suggests the conversation extended beyond a single city or regional focus, aiming instead to address collaboration opportunities across Pakistan’s broader entrepreneurial landscape.
Following the meeting, the OPEN delegation visited National Science and Technology Park, where Director Engineer Amer Sheikh briefed the group on NSTP’s ecosystem and the role it plays in fostering leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, research and development, market access, and investor facilitation. The briefing gave the visiting delegation a clearer picture of how NSTP structures its support for startups and research linked ventures operating within and around NUST’s campus.
As part of the visit, the delegation also toured NSTP based startups directly, engaging with their innovative solutions, growth journeys, and market potential firsthand. This direct engagement gave OPEN’s leadership a closer look at the specific ventures operating within NSTP’s ecosystem, potentially identifying startups that could benefit from the kind of international connections OPEN Global’s network is positioned to offer.
The engagement was framed as a platform for exploring stronger linkages between NSTP and OPEN’s global network, with particular attention given to connecting Pakistani entrepreneurs and technology ventures with international markets, investors, mentors, and broader global entrepreneurial networks. Given OPEN’s established international presence and NSTP’s role as a research and innovation hub tied to NUST, the meeting adds to a pattern of Pakistani institutions seeking to build stronger bridges between the domestic startup ecosystem and international entrepreneurial networks, with the goal of improving access to global capital, mentorship, and market opportunities for local ventures.
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