KARACHI: PACE College of Advanced Studies, Pakistan’s first entrepreneurship college, hosted the South Region Grand Finale of the Junior CEO Challenge 2026 (Season 6) at the Marriott Hotel, Karachi, on November 7.
Organized in collaboration with GEN International and the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, the event received support from the Youth Affairs Department, Government of Sindh.
Over 3,000 Young Innovators Participate
Led by founders Adeel Durvesh, Wazir Ahmed and Syed Naqeeb, the sixth season engaged more than 3,000 young innovators from across Pakistan.
The initiative aims to develop entrepreneurial skills among students and help transform their ideas into viable ventures through MEHD, described by PACE College as Pakistan’s first college-level incubation centre.
The programme built on the momentum of Round II, which featured Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan and Fahad Shafiq, Coordinator of the PM Youth Programme Sindh. Both encouraged participating students to pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions.
Government, Education and Industry Leaders Attend
The grand finale brought together prominent representatives from government, education and industry.
Among the distinguished guests were Balochistan Education Minister Ms. Raheela Durrani, AKUEB CEO Dr. Naveed Yousuf, PharmEvo and Shield CEO Haroon Qasim, Essa Lab CEO Dr. Farhan Essa, and Hamdard Senior Brand Manager Saif Ali.
Impressed by the initiative, Raheela Durrani invited the organizing team to bring the Junior CEO Challenge to students in Balochistan in 2027.
Hosted by Huma Jabeen, the programme also featured a panel discussion titled “From Pocket Money to Seed Money.” Zohra Jabeen, CEO of Kiran Foundation, moderated the discussion, which explored youth entrepreneurship and financial awareness.
Junior CEO Challenge 2026 Winners
The competition recognised three students for their performance:
- Winner: Momin Khawaja — Aga Khan School, Garden
- First Runner-Up: Sara Shoaib — Aga Khan School, Hyderabad
- Second Runner-Up: Syeda Soha Batool — Habib Girls’ School
The winners received trophies, cash prizes and educational scholarships in recognition of their achievements.
Leading Organisations Support the Initiative
The event received support from several institutional and corporate partners, including Greenwich University, National Incubation Center (NIC), PharmEvo, First Habib Modaraba, Lucky Cement, DigitKhata, QistBazaar, Nelson, Keys Production, Premier Cables, KSG and EOP, among others.
PACE College also highlighted its commitment to combining academic excellence with practical learning. Its students achieved scores of up to 97% in the Annual Examinations 2026, with numerous students securing marks in the 90s.
The Junior CEO Challenge will now move to Islamabad, where the North Region Finale is scheduled for November 13, 2026.
