Successful Entrepreneurs in Pakistan & Future of Entrepreneurship

 Characteristics of a Successful Entrepreneur

It’s not easy to be an entrepreneur because several factors go into starting a successful entrepreneurship business venture, including concept, and initial funding.

The most important ingredient is the entrepreneur in any entrepreneurship business venture.

Individuals who must transform their ideas into a 100% operational business.

If you’re thinking and planning to execute launching your venture, you might be wondering

If you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur.

What makes someone a good entrepreneur?

To be a successful entrepreneur anyone need to be:

• • Determined: Keep trying even when things are tough.

• • Positive: Believe in yourself and your ideas.

• • Flexible: Be ready to change plans when needed.

• • Self-motivated: Push yourself to work hard.

• • Goal-oriented: Know what you want to achieve and work towards it.

• • Able to handle stress: Stay calm under pressure.

• • Creative: Come up with new ideas.

• • Resourceful: Find ways to do things with what you have.

• • Optimistic: Believe in the future.

• • Organized: Plan and manage your time well.

Successful entrepreneurs include being persistent, having a positive attitude, being flexible, being self-motivated, being goal-oriented, being able to manage stress, being creative, being resourceful, being optimistic, being organized, and being determined.

Top 10 Characteristics of a Successful Entrepreneur

1. 1. Planning

1. 1. Determination

1. 1. Flexibility

1. 1. The Demand for What You Sell

1. 1. Innovation

1. 1. Versatility

1. 1. Team Management

1. 1. Calculated and Planned Risks

1. 1. Market Assessment

1. 1. The Future Trends

The Global Village, as they say, is an output of entrepreneurs. Innovation, creative thinking, and out-of-the-box solutions. All this chunk has made the world we live in today. Yet, some common traits remain common for all successful entrepreneurs. Some of the wells searched and researched points are:

1. Planning

Planning is more important than just having a plan.

If you want to be successful in business, you need to spend time planning. A good plan helps you achieve your goals. Smart business owners always think carefully about their plans before they start something new. They make sure to consider every detail.

Planning is like a roadmap that guides you to success.

2. Determination

Once you have a good plan, it’s time to start doing it.

Don’t worry too much about things that might go wrong. Just focus on making your plan work. This is especially important now, after the COVID-19 pandemic.

3. Flexibility

Successful people are flexible.

They can change their plans when needed. It’s okay to make mistakes and change your mind. The COVID-19 pandemic taught us that we need to be flexible in our lives and work.

4. The Demand For What You Sell

You need to sell things that people want to buy.

Imagine trying to sell a boat to someone in the desert! It wouldn’t work, right? So, before you start a business, you need to figure out what people need or want. This is called supply and demand.

5. Innovation

Successful businesses need to keep coming up with new ideas.

Even if you think you’re doing great, you always need to look for ways to improve. Companies that stop coming up with new things can fail. For example, Nokia was a very popular phone company, but it didn’t keep up with new technology, so other companies like Android became more popular.

6. Versatility

Businesses should make things easy for customers.

People’s time is valuable, so it’s important to be quick and helpful.

Companies like Amazon started by selling just a few things, but now they sell almost everything! This shows that offering many different products can make a business very successful.

7. Team Management

Managing a team is important when your business starts to grow.

It’s different from just working by yourself on a computer. You need to understand how people feel about their work and the company.

The way people feel about their jobs affects the company’s success. We can learn a lot from what happened during the COVID-19 pandemic to help us manage teams better this year.

8. Calculated and Planned Risks

Taking chances can help you succeed.

People who are brave and take risks often become successful. It’s better to try something new than to do nothing and wait for good things to happen. When you take a chance, you might find a great opportunity.

Now that the COVID-19 situation is getting better, it’s a good time to start taking risks and trying new things.

9. Market Assessment

To be successful in business, you need to know what people want and when they want it.

It’s important to understand what’s popular right now (like what people are buying) and figure out the best time to start a new business. Making money online is the future, so you need to know how to do it and when to do it.

10. The Future Trends

Successful business owners always think about what will happen next.

They need to keep making their products better. Last year made us realize what we were missing out on. This year, it’s easy to make mistakes, so we need to be careful.

To keep growing, you need to know what’s happening in the market. You have to change your products and ads all the time. If you watch what people want and come up with new ideas, you can stay ahead of your competitors.

A Brief Background about Online Successful Entrepreneurs in Pakistan

Discover the most successful online entrepreneurs in Pakistan! From e-commerce to software development, these innovators are leading the way in their respective fields.

Gain valuable insights and inspiration from their stories of determination and perseverance. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn from the best. Explore the world of online entrepreneurship in Pakistan today!

What are the success stories of successful online entrepreneurs in Pakistan?

How do digital marketers perform their jobs?

You need to know your current status in the digital Industry. Pakistan is home to about 242.8 million people in January 2024, Data shows that Pakistan’s population increased by 4.7 million (+2.0 percent) between early 2023 and the start of 2024. 49.6 percent of Pakistan’s population is female, while 50.4 percent is male.

Around 65% of the population is under 30 years. A country overview with this giant population has a foreign debt of about US$112 Billion (Approximately 48 trillion Rupees). This sum is equal to the net five years of the Fiscal budget of Pakistan.

In 2024, Pakistan was 77 years old after independence. We all have debt in the economy, i.e., US$285 Billion. Jeff Bezos (Founder and CEO of Amazon ), is living in the US. Still, he will be among the top 100 Billionaires after paying all this debt, as an Entrepreneur, which is worthy of an entrepreneur.

That’s the solution for a better economy to be an entrepreneur. We need more entrepreneurs’ mindsets than employees’ mindsets for future generations. An Entrepreneur organizes, manages, and assumes the risk of starting and developing a business venture.

Ranking Wise Online Successful Entrepreneurs in Pakistan

A list of the most online successful Entrepreneurs in Pakistan we have compiled includes:

1. Qasim Ali Shah

A Youth Entrepreneur Mentor

2. Rehan Allahwala

A Serial Entrepreneur and Philanthropist

Rehan Allahwala is a Pakistani entrepreneur with a remarkable history of business ventures. Born into an entrepreneurial family, he exhibited an early aptitude for business, starting with small-scale ventures as a child. By his early thirties, he had founded over 50 companies.

Following his entrepreneurial journey, Allahwala transitioned into teaching and mentorship, sharing his extensive business knowledge online. He established a foundation aimed at nurturing entrepreneurial talent and alleviating poverty. Additionally, his innovative approach to education involves using mobile phones to teach basic literacy to billions of people.

Allahwala’s ultimate goal is to eradicate poverty globally through entrepreneurship and education. His life story is a testament to the power of perseverance, innovation, and a strong philanthropic spirit.

3. Azad Chaiwala

A Self-Made Entrepreneur with a Bold Message

Azad Chaiwala is a prominent figure among young people today. Known for his slogan “Degree Nahi, Skills!” (Skills, not Degrees!), he advocates for practical skills over traditional education. This stance has garnered him both supporters and critics.

Chaiwala embodies the entrepreneurial spirit. He started his journey young, selling candies at the age of 21.

His accomplishments include:

• • FOG (Free Online Gaming.com): A popular online gaming platform boasting over 1 billion players.

• • Mobile App Development: Over 1,000 apps were developed for Google Play with approximately 700 million downloads.

• • Estimated Net Worth: Between US$1-5 million.

Chaiwala’s approach is unconventional. He refers to his followers as “Millionaire” (a slang Urdu term for a millionaire), highlighting his belief in the potential of entrepreneurship.

4. Hisham Sarwar – Freelancing Guru

From 9-to-5 to Freelancing Freedom

Hisham Sarwar is a shining example of how pursuing your passion can lead to success. Once a typical “9-to-5” worker, he eventually realized that this path wasn’t fulfilling. Seeking a more meaningful career, Hisham embarked on a journey to freelancing.

He started by offering web design and development services on traditional freelancing platforms. With dedication and hard work, he quickly gained recognition and transitioned to Guru.com, a well-established freelancing marketplace. This move allowed him to secure more prominent projects and eventually become a full-time entrepreneur.

Hisham’s story highlights a key principle: if you can turn your passion into a source of income, it offers immense satisfaction compared to a traditional job. His success is further underscored by his estimated net worth of US$1 Million.

5. Ashraf Chaudhary

A Sales and Marketing Guru

Ashraf Chaudhary is a renowned sales trainer, business coach, and marketing expert. With a strong online presence, he is a leading social media influencer and copywriter in the business development sector.

Overcoming adversity, Chaudhary transformed a personal crisis into an entrepreneurial journey. His career took off after a successful workshop in Karachi in 2009. Since then, he has trained over 100,000 individuals and organizations in various fields.

Known for his Guerrilla Marketing strategies, Chaudhary has built a strong brand around his name. His book, “The Craft of Selling Yourself,” has gained international recognition. His unique approach to freelancing training, including courses on Facebook marketing and English writing, has empowered countless individuals.

Chaudhary’s expertise in sales and marketing, coupled with his engaging teaching style, has made him a sought-after mentor for aspiring entrepreneurs. His influence extends to the youth, particularly through his Guerrilla CV service.

If you aim to succeed in sales and marketing, Chaudhary’s training programs offer invaluable insights and opportunities.

6. Sheikh Kashif Ali (Sunny Ali)

A Pioneer in Pakistani E-commerce

Sheikh Kashif Ali, better known as Sunny Ali, is a prominent figure in Pakistan’s e-commerce industry. His expertise in Amazon commerce has earned him a reputation as an industry leader.

Starting his career as a young teacher, Ali later transitioned to a technology role in Australia. However, the 2008 financial crisis impacted his business, forcing him to reevaluate his path.

From these challenges, Ali developed a vision to empower Pakistani entrepreneurs through Amazon’s platform. His goal is to inject a billion dollars into Pakistan’s economy by creating ten thousand Amazon sellers. This ambitious plan aims to elevate Pakistan’s economic standing and improve the lives of its citizens.

Sunny Ali’s story is an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs in Pakistan, demonstrating the potential for success in the global e-commerce market.

7. Saqib Azhar

Empowering Pakistan Through E-commerce

Saqib Azhar is a seasoned entrepreneur and a leading figure in Pakistan’s e-commerce landscape. As the CEO and co-founder of Enablers.org, he leverages his 15 years of experience in technology and digital marketing to empower Pakistani businesses.

Saqib’s experience extends to the international e-commerce realm, where he has successfully sold physical products. This expertise informs his vision for Pakistan: enabling and empowering the nation through e-commerce. He actively advocates for attracting major players like Amazon to invest in Pakistan. This strategic move holds the potential to significantly boost the country’s economic growth.

In essence, Saqib Azhar is a passionate advocate who aims to unlock Pakistan’s e-commerce potential and fuel economic prosperity for the nation.

8. Waqar Zaka

A Controversial Figure and Crypto Advocate

Waqar Zaka is a prominent Pakistani public figure known for his outspoken nature and controversial stances. He has gained notoriety for his advocacy of legalizing cryptocurrency in Pakistan. Zaka’s determination is evident in his legal battle against the Sindh government over an outdated computer course, which he successfully challenged.

A vocal opponent of the PUBG ban, Zaka believes that cryptocurrency holds the potential to revolutionize Pakistan’s economy. His engineering background coupled with his entrepreneurial spirit has positioned him as a leading figure in the country’s nascent crypto industry. Many consider him a pioneer in this space.

Zaka’s outspoken personality and willingness to challenge the status quo have made him a polarizing figure, but his impact on the public discourse around cryptocurrency and digital innovation cannot be ignored.

9. Imran Ali Dina

From Classroom to Online Educator

Imran Ali Dina is a multifaceted individual who seamlessly blends academia with entrepreneurship. As a university professor and a digital content creator, he has made a significant impact on the lives of countless students.

Dina’s entrepreneurial spirit is evident in his successful YouTube channel, GFX Mentor, where he imparts his expertise in graphic design to a global audience. His free tutorials on Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator have empowered aspiring designers, particularly from the Middle East, to pursue their creative passions.

Dina’s commitment to education is unwavering. His actions during the potential YouTube ban in Pakistan exemplify his dedication to providing accessible knowledge. By continuing to teach and empower young minds, he has defied conventional norms and become a role model for aspiring educators and entrepreneurs alike.

Imran Ali Dina is a visionary who has harnessed the power of technology to democratize education and create opportunities for others.

10. Umer Saif – E-Rozgar

Umer Saif is a prominent figure in Pakistan’s technology and development landscape. A prodigy who earned his doctorate at the age of 22 from Cambridge University, he further honed his expertise at MIT.

Saif’s entrepreneurial journey led him to co-found SurveyAuto and assume its CEO role. His influence extends beyond the corporate world, as evidenced by his advisory position at the United Nations Development Program.

His impact on Pakistan is profound. As the former chairman of the Punjab Information Technology Board, he played a pivotal role in the country’s digital transformation. Notably, he spearheaded the E-Rozgar initiative to create digital employment opportunities for the masses.

Saif’s contributions to Pakistan’s technological advancement and his global recognition solidified his status as a visionary leader.

Top Ten Successful Female Entrepreneurs in Pakistan

It is very difficult to be a female because you have to think like a male, behave like a lady, look like a mess, and work like a horse. Today’s Pakistani women are not less than their men. They are taking part in the socio-economic development of their country.

Women are 48% of the total population of Pakistan. But only 19-20% of the women population is taking part in the race of development.

Some years back, it was an absurd idea for a woman to run a business in Pakistan. But women are very keen to work in business.

Now a day many organizations have started work to empower women in Pakistan. They encourage women to be Independent. These organizations give them opportunities to polish their skills.

National productivity organizations have developed a women’s entrepreneurship development system in Pakistan. The main purpose of this system is to encourage women and provide them with the opportunity to work in a free environment.

In this present era, many Pakistani women have proved themselves in different fields. Through the use of technology, they have been more successful. Such women are the source of inspiration for others. Some of them are listed below:

1. Maria Umer – Women’s Digital League

If you search for women online successful entrepreneurs in Pakistan, Maria Umer is displayed at the top of the list. She is the founder of the Women’s Digital League (WDL). WDL is the online league of training and providing opportunities to women. WDL guidance to newbies can come in the Digital Industry of Pakistan.

Maria Umar is another accomplished and brilliant entrepreneur. She is the founder and president of an IT company “The Women’s Digital League”.

She was a schoolteacher. But after being rejected for maternity leave, she quit her job from there. She did not stop there. With her hard work and enthusiasm, she formed The Women’s Digital League.

Maria got training from Silicon Valley. She practices her expertise and skill in her company.

WDL is a digital platform that provides opportunities for young educated girls to work online. This company makes women economically strong. WDL helps them to become independent and more empowered.

The main keys to her success in the technology industry are focus and dedication.

The turning point of her career was the project “Artemis/Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Program”, coached by “the giants of Silicon Valley”. Maria is an ambitious woman, who is keen to bring women’s fore in the entrepreneur programs.

2. Salma Jafri: Content  Marketer

Salma Jafri is one of the women who took challenges in her life. She is the best mother and a successful entrepreneur.

She continued her struggle.  And now she is the founder and CEO of wordPL.net. it is a platform for young entrepreneurs. Which focuses on content marketing through social media.

She is an expert in blog and content writing, social media marketing and planning, online videos, and marketing consultation. She uses the term “Content Marketer” for herself.

 3. Nabila Maqsood: Stylist

Nabila Maqsood is a Pakistani makeup artist and hairstylist. She started her career by opening a saloon In May 1986 in Karachi. After that with the help of her work and struggle, she expands her work all over the country. And now she launched a nail salon and gent saloon named: N- Gents.

Nabila Maqsood is now a shining star in the fashion industry of Pakistan. Through her artistic and unique ideas, she became a successful stylist celebrity. She proved herself in this industry and styling Lux style awards outstanding is her huge achievements. She has been marked so many times as a creative stylist in the Lux style awards.

4. Roshaneh Zafar: Micro Finance

Roshaneh Zafar is a women’s development activist. She is working for women’s economic empowerment and she is the first leading social entrepreneur in Pakistan.

She has been a socio-entrepreneur at the Schwab Foundation since 2004. Roshaneh Zafar also worked World Bank in the capital of Pakistan and established the Kashf Foundation in 1996; she is a Managing Director of this foundation.

She had been working for the development and empowerment of women. For this, she has been awarded one of the highest civilian awards, Tamgha-e-Imtiaz. For her social entrepreneurship, she was awarded the Skool Award in 2007.

5. Sadaffe Abid

 Sadaffe Abid is another social entrepreneur in Pakistan. She completed her higher education at Harvard University then joined Kashf Foundation in April 1997 and worked for this foundation for 10 years. She received the Grameen Trust Microfinance Excellence award and the AGFUND international prize.

Sadaffe Abid has served another microfinance institution: BUKSH Foundation in Dubai, INSTEAD, and the National Bank of Pakistan.

She is currently running a tech organization called CIRCLE. She has received the Mount Holyoke Alumni Achievement award and Australia awards.

6. Sadia Bashir: Pakistani Computer Scientist

Sadia Bashir belongs to a family where education is not a priority for a woman. She had to struggle hard to get an education. She has a keen interest in the field of computer graphics and gaming.

From the very young age of 13, she started designing her games. She completed her master’s degree from COMSATS University in computer sciences with artificial intelligence, software engineering, and video games.

Sadia creates Pixel Games Academy and she has Ken Levine, Rami Ismail, Brie Code, and Jonathon Chey as a game developer in her organization. She encourages women to come forward and tries to reduce the gender gap.

Sadia Bashir received the “Women Can Do” award from the US embassy in 2016. In Los Angeles at the game award, she was given the title of a global gaming citizen by Facebook.

7. Saba Gul

Saba Gul is an engineer by degree. She has her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from MIT and works with the MIT South Asian Alumni Association for the development of Pakistan.

She pursues her life in social work and has worked in different countries such as Sri Lanka and Ethiopia.

Saba Gul is well-known in the fashion industry. She is the founder and CEO of BLISS enterprise. It is also known as Popinjay. It is a company that produces hand-embroidered lush silk and leather handbags.

The main purpose of establishing the Bliss enterprise is to provide a platform for needy women. Where they can utilize their skills in a better environment.

 8. Jehan Ara

Jehan Ara is a great name in the field of IT. She is a symbol of empowerment for women and social justice and also works for the media communication industry.

 Jehan Ara got her education in Hong Kong and started her career as a journalist. After the retirement, of her father, she moved back to Pakistan in 1990. Here she established a company, Enabling Technologies in 1994.

She has been the president of P@SHA since 2007 and was invited to speak at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit by Barak Obama in 2016 Nowadays, she is also a member of the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Information Technologies and Telecom.

She is the founder of the NEST I/O and has been working to make the Pakistani industry glorified as well as still working hard to encourage social mobilization in Pakistan. Her mission is to empower women and provide them with opportunities to enter the world of employment.

9. Kalsoom Lakhani

Kalsoom Lakhani is the CEO and founder of Invet2inovate Company. This company encourages new communities in growth markets. She motivates and helps young entrepreneurs in Pakistan.

She is a worldwide entity in the business globe and has trained many civil society members and entrepreneurs in different countries.

Her intuition, perception, and understanding are considered very worthwhile. She has been invited as a speaker to the World Economic Forum, the US Chamber of Commerce, the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, and the Aspen Ideas Festival.

She took inspiration from strong women and became a successful powerhouse in the globe of business.

10. Saniya Waqar Shaffi

Saniya is a passionate and energetic young entrepreneur. She believes that women can be independently successful. She started her business by opening a bakery “Sweet Affairs” in Gulberg Lahore. Saniya is running this bakery as the Chief Executive.

Her mission is to eradicate the absurd idea that women cannot be self-made. She strongly believes that women can break conservative traditions.

Saniya is a self-made young businesswoman. She proved that with strong intellect, enthusiasm, and passion, anyone can achieve success. She is a shining star, an inspiration for young individuals to prove themselves.