Young entrepreneurs across Pakistan are finding new ways to solve problems and create opportunities. Recognising their efforts, Wafi Energy Pakistan Limited (WEPL) hosted the 13th Tameer Awards 2026, bringing together entrepreneurs from across the country to showcase their ideas and businesses.
This year, the programme received over 700 applications, compared to more than 450 last year, reflecting growing interest in entrepreneurship and innovation. Following the evaluation process, 30 finalists were selected across six categories: Circular Economy, Clean Energy Solutions, Empowering Women, Technology Innovation, Transportation & Mobility and Bright Ideas.
The finalists presented their innovative solutions and businesses to a panel of judges from Pakistan’s corporate, business, investment and academic sectors. The judges assessed each entry based on its business potential and ability to address real-world challenges, selecting winners and runners-up across all six categories.
Sharing his thoughts on the programme, Zubair Shaikh, CEO of Wafi Energy Pakistan Limited, said: “Pakistan’s future economic growth will depend, in part, on young entrepreneurs building businesses that solve real problems and create opportunities. The talent and determination we’ve seen in this year’s finalists continue to give us confidence in the country’s future. Wafi Energy Pakistan Limited believes in investing in that potential. By connecting entrepreneurs with expertise, networks and opportunities, we want to help promising young innovators and businesses progress and build lasting value for Pakistan.”
Habib Haider, Director Retail at Wafi Energy Pakistan Limited, said: “This year, we received more than 700 applications from across Pakistan, up from over 450 last year, reflecting growing interest in entrepreneurship and innovation. The diversity of ideas presented by our finalists shows that young Pakistanis are developing solutions across energy, technology, sustainability and artificial intelligence. Tameer gives them an opportunity to present their work, learn from industry leaders and take the next step in building their businesses.”
The winners of the 13th Tameer Awards 2026 were announced across six categories, recognising innovative businesses and solutions addressing a range of challenges.
In Clean Energy Solutions, Shoukat Hussain was recognised for As Sammak Farm SMC Private Limited, a sustainable fish-farming business that uses Biofloc Technology (BFT) to optimise fish production while reducing water and energy consumption and pressure on freshwater resources. Mujtaba Bilal of Quantify was named runner-up.
The Circular Economy award went to Zakir Hussain for HAS Handicrafts, an enterprise transforming textile waste and discarded materials into sustainable fashion and lifestyle products while supporting artisan livelihoods and preserving traditional craftsmanship. Saleeha Shah of Rent It was named runner-up.
In Empowering Women, Sehrish Waqqas received the award for Dastaan-e-Rumaan, an enterprise that empowers women artisans by transforming hard-to-recycle plastic packaging into durable woven products, creating sustainable livelihood opportunities while preserving traditional handloom craftsmanship. Dr. Khola Abdul Saboor of The Play Co was named runner-up.
In the Bright Ideas category, Dr. Usman Allauddin won for PAKHYDRO – Indigenous Pakistan’s Hydrogen Generation System, an affordable, locally developed hydrogen-generation solution using electrolysis. Shawal Zahid of Elaj Ghar was named runner-up.
In Technology Innovation, Muhammad Osama Amin received the award for VM Nebula (SMC-Private) Limited, whose Sarkit platform uses AI-powered, voice-first retail management to help traditional bazaar merchants manage complex inventories through everyday speech, making digital commerce more accessible to grassroots businesses. Arslan Ahmad of Sayvron AI Inc was named runner-up.
The Transportation & Mobility award went to Ather Nadeem for Sarai by Thingsty, Pakistan’s smart EV charging platform that helps electric vehicle owners locate chargers, plan vehicle-specific journeys and access app-based charging through an integrated IoT-powered system. Abdul Mateen of NUVEX (Private) Limited was named runner-up.
Now in its 13th edition, the Tameer Awards build on a legacy of supporting young entrepreneurs for over two decades. Since its inception, the programme has supported more than 1,200 startups and reached over 1.5 million young Pakistanis through entrepreneurship initiatives. Each year, promising businesses are recognised through the programme, with opportunities to gain exposure and connect with wider entrepreneurial networks, both locally and internationally. Wafi Energy Pakistan Limited continues to encourage young people to turn their ideas into sustainable businesses and contribute to a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem in Pakistan.
