To boost women entrepreneurship and innovation, the Higher Education Department Punjab on Wednesday distributed Rs.9 million in seed funding to seven winning women-led startups and research prototypes at the Research & Innovation Pitch Fest- 2025, held at Rawalpindi Women University (RWU).
The competition saw over 350 participants from across Punjab Pitch-70 projects in diverse fields ranging from health-tech and agri-tech to artificial intelligence and sustainable materials. After rigorous evaluation by a jury of industry leaders and senior academics, 20 projects were shortlisted of which 7 were declared winners.
RWU secured Rs.7 million going to its students and faculty, while Rs.2 million was awarded to projects from Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU).
The event was jointly organised by RWU’s Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization (ORIC) in collaboration with FJWU and led by Syed Aun Shah Muhammad, Program Lead of the Punjab government’s Overseas Placement & Commercialization Initiative.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Syed Aun Shah Muhammad said the provincial government, under the vision of CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif and supervision of Minister for Higher Education Rana Sikandar Hayat, was shifting focus from sending unskilled labour abroad to exporting highly skilled talent and globally competitive startups.
“Until recently, most of our youth were leaving Pakistan for manual jobs, today we are preparing them to take ideas, products and companies to the world”, he said adding that the Pitch Fest is the bridge that connects innovative ideas with international markets and investors.
He announced that dedicated funding pools and mentorship programmes would be established in every public-sector university.
Dr. Moeen Batlay, Director ORIC at RWU, thanked Chief Minister and Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat for their unwavering support to research and women’s economic empowerment. “This is not just a competition; it is a launchpad that turns ideas into businesses and researchers into job creators,” he added.
Industry leaders present on the occasion pledged continued support. IBM Pakistan’s Waqar Hussain urged greater emphasis on critical thinking. Renowned entrepreneur Dr. Imran Muhammad Siddique assured participants that the best ideas would never lack funding. Imran Hussain from Kinetic Network while appreciating the projects stressed for digital transformation at schools and colleges level.
Amjad Iqbal, Director Colleges Rawalpindi Division, called the current Punjab government “the most pro-innovation administration in the province’s history.” Cheques were handed over to the winning teams.
Syed Aun Shah Muhammad, Dr Moeen Batlay, Dr Huma Rauf (Director Student Affairs RWU), Amjad Iqbal and other dignitaries paid tribute to the students and faculties for their innovative projects.