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Pakistani innovators and entertainers feature in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia
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ISLAMABAD: Seven young Pakistanis, alongside actor Hania Aamir and filmmaker Saman Kamran, have been named to the prestigious 2026 edition of Forbes’ “30 Under 30 Asia” list, earning recognition for achievements spanning technology, finance, science, social impact and entertainment.
The annual list, now in its 11th edition, features 300 entrepreneurs, innovators, artists, athletes and changemakers under the age of 30 from across the Asia-Pacific region.
Forbes said that this year’s honourees were selected across 10 categories and represented a generation reshaping industries amid rapid technological and social change.
Pakistan’s representation on the list highlights a growing presence of young professionals making an impact in sectors ranging from fintech and artificial intelligence to scientific research, youth leadership and global entertainment.
Technology entrepreneurs recognised for digitising regional trade
In the “Consumer & Enterprise Technology” category, Pakistani entrepreneur Syed Ismail was recognised for co-founding Karachi-based startup Saraaf in 2021.
According to Forbes, Saraaf aims to digitise commodity sourcing and increase transparency in regional trade by connecting businesses with suppliers across Central and South Asia.
The company is preparing to launch a mobile platform offering real-time pricing, shipment tracking, digitised contracts and live communication tools for businesses sourcing materials such as cotton and onyx.
The startup also secured a $5.3 million investment commitment through Shark Tank Pakistan in 2024, marking one of the notable funding rounds for a Pakistani technology venture.
Pakistani founders make finance and venture capital list
Muhammad Furqan Karim Kidwai and Sarfraz Shahid Hussain earned spots in the “Finance & Venture Capital” category for co-founding Singapore-based Plouton AI, an automation platform designed for finance teams.
Forbes described the company as an “agentic automation platform” that helps mid-sized firms automate finance workflows, including invoicing, payroll processing and month-end reconciliations through browser-based AI agents that operate within existing software systems such as Xero, QuickBooks and Excel.
Kidwai told Forbes that the idea emerged after observing how finance teams in many emerging markets continued to rely heavily on spreadsheets and email-based processes.
The pair, both graduates of Habib University, previously co-founded fintech startup YPay Financial Services, which enabled digital investment in mutual funds.
Scientist honoured for semiconductor research and women in science initiative
In the “Healthcare & Science” category, Maheera Ghani was recognised for her work in advanced materials science and efforts to encourage greater participation of women in scientific fields.
Ghani completed a PhD in materials science at University of Cambridge in 2025 and is currently conducting postdoctoral research on ultra-thin semiconductors.
Forbes highlighted her leadership of the WinSci Pakistan education initiative, which received the Nature Inspiring Women in Science Award from the Estée Lauder Companies and Springer Nature. The programme seeks to encourage young women to pursue careers in science, technology and research.
Reacting to her inclusion on the list, Ghani said researching next-generation semiconductors and working at the intersection of science, innovation and social impact had been an “amazing journey”.
“I am overwhelmed with gratitude and pride to represent my country on such a prestigious platform and this recognition means so much to me personally,” she said.
Youth leader recognised for public policy platform
Fahad Shahbaz, founder of the Youth General Assembly, was included in the “Social Impact” category for creating opportunities for young Pakistanis to engage with leadership and policymaking.
Forbes noted that Shahbaz launched the initiative in 2015 at the age of 18 to provide a pathway for youth participation in governance and public affairs.
The organisation operates an annual 96-member assembly modelled on the British parliamentary system and Pakistan’s National Assembly, allowing participants to debate policy issues and formulate recommendations.
Shahbaz was previously awarded the Diana Award and is a member of the Pakistan chapter of the World Economic Forum Global Shapers Community. He also holds a Master of Laws degree from the University of Law.
Following the announcement, Shahbaz said the recognition belonged to everyone who had supported him throughout his journey.
“This recognition is not mine alone. It belongs to the people who believed in me, supported me and stood beside me throughout this journey,” he wrote on X.
He added that meaningful change began with service and responsibility and that Pakistan’s future would be shaped by its youth.
Hania Aamir joins entertainment and sports category
Pakistani actor Hania Aamir was named in the “Entertainment & Sports” category, becoming one of the country’s most prominent entertainment figures to receive the recognition.
Hania recently became Pakistan’s most-followed woman on Instagram, surpassing 20 million followers. Over the past decade, she has established herself as one of the country’s leading television stars through a series of commercially successful drama serials.
Her recent projects include the hit television drama Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, while she is also set to appear in Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo, billed as Netflix’s first original series from Pakistan.
Beyond entertainment, Hania serves as a National Goodwill Ambassador for Pakistan with UN Women.
Saman Kamran recognised for socially conscious filmmaking
Filmmaker Saman Kamran was also included in the “Entertainment & Sports” category for her work addressing environmental and social issues through cinema.
Forbes highlighted her short film The Bed She Made, which explored the intersection of climate change and fertility challenges in Pakistan. The project became the only Pakistani film selected for the Busan International Short Film Festival.
Kamran previously worked as an assistant director on the fantasy film Umro Ayyar: A New Beginning and has emerged as one of the country’s promising young filmmakers.
Growing Pakistani presence on Forbes list
Pakistan has periodically featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list through entrepreneurs, artists, athletes and designers.
Last year, Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem was among the country’s notable inclusions, while previous honourees have included filmmaker Bushra Sultan, fashion entrepreneur Zain Ahmad, artist Misha Japanwala and singer Momina Mustehsan.
Forbes said the 2026 list reflects a new generation of innovators across Asia-Pacific who are leveraging technology, creativity and entrepreneurship to address challenges and create new opportunities. India led this year’s rankings with the highest number of honourees, while candidates from 18 countries and territories were represented.
Forbes described the 2026 cohort as a group of “changemakers” transforming industries and redefining leadership across the region.
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