The Ignite-managed Pakistan Startup Fund has started the process of hiring an air travel agency for FY27, according to pre-qualification documents that require interested firms to submit applications through the Electronic Pakistan Acquisition and Disposal System by July 7, 2026. Only firms shortlisted during the pre-qualification stage will be permitted to participate in the subsequent bidding process, giving the fund a structured, multi-stage procurement approach for what is otherwise a fairly routine administrative hire.
Eligible firms must be registered with relevant authorities, maintain an office in Islamabad, remain active taxpayers, and hold accreditation from the International Air Transport Association, a set of requirements intended to ensure the fund works only with established, credentialed travel agencies capable of supporting its broader international programming needs. Applicants will be evaluated through a quality-based selection process and must secure at least 70 out of 100 technical marks to qualify, reflecting a fairly rigorous bar for a support services contract of this kind.
Official data shows the fund has an allocation of 3 billion rupees, though this year’s original PSDP allocation to the project stood at 275 million rupees. Since spending needs exceeded the original allocation, the year-end spending figure reached 340 million rupees, indicating that actual utilisation of the fund outpaced its initial budgetary projections over the course of the year.
The Pakistan Startup Fund was launched to provide equity-free grants to innovation-driven startups, alongside international acceleration and incubation opportunities, and was expected to provide grants of up to 2 billion rupees annually. Nearly 250 applications have been received to date and remain under various stages of scrutiny, reflecting substantial demand for the fund’s support relative to the number of startups it has been able to formally onboard so far. A total of 39 startups have secured funding this year with strong forward momentum, according to the fund’s reported progress.
Under the programme, startups can receive non-equity grants covering up to 30 percent of an investment round, provided they first secure commitments from private investors, ensuring that the fund’s support complements rather than replaces private capital participation. Startups can alternatively access funding opportunities specifically for international acceleration and incubation, giving the fund flexibility in how it supports different startups depending on their stage and specific growth needs. The move to hire a dedicated travel agency for FY27 reflects the operational scale the fund has reached in supporting startups through international programmes, requiring dedicated logistical infrastructure to manage the travel needs tied to its acceleration and incubation initiatives.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
