Vice Chancellor of the University of Peshawar, Prof. Dr. Johar Ali, has said the Business Incubation Center (BIC) aims to integrate academia with innovation, foster entrepreneurial culture among students, create market-ready solutions for societal challenges, and connect young innovators with industry and investors. He stressed that the university is committed to building a strong bridge between research and real-world application to drive economic growth.
The BIC marked a major milestone with the Graduation Day of its first cohort, celebrating the achievements of young entrepreneurs and their journey from idea development to business execution.
The event opened with the recitation of the Holy Quran and the national anthem, followed by a welcome note and presentation on the cohort’s progress by Dr. Shakeel Khan, Head of BIC. He highlighted the resilience, creativity, and growth demonstrated by the startups during the incubation period.
Mr. Noman Bashir, Director General of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), delivered a keynote stressing the importance of market access for emerging businesses. A documentary showcased the transformation of participating startups, with the official launch of “Asuz” — a standout venture from Cohort 1 — as a special highlight.
An exhibition provided opportunities for networking between startups, industry leaders, and academia, encouraging future collaborations and investment prospects. Dr. Muhammad Hashim Khan, in his concluding remarks, reflected on the impact of the incubation process and outlined the vision for upcoming cohorts.
Graduation certificates were awarded to Cohort 1 participants, recognizing their dedication and accomplishments. The ceremony was attended by prominent figures from academia, industry, government, and development sectors, including Dr. Taza Gul (Director General, Directorate of Science and Technology), Rehma Riaz (SMEDA), Khalid Farooq Malik (Malik & Associates), Atif Shehzad (Makkah Distributors), Dr. Adil Muhammad (Alkhidmat), Khurshid Alam and Prof. Jamil A. Chitrali (Institute of Peace & Conflict Studies), Dr. Sajjad Ahmad (ORIC), Ejaz Khan (UNDP), and faculty members from various UoP departments.
The celebration reaffirmed BIC’s commitment to transforming ideas into impactful businesses through mentorship, training, and strategic networking — setting a strong precedent for future entrepreneurial success at the University of Peshawar.
