Sindh Higher Education Commission organized event in collaboration with Institute of Business Management (IoBM) Karachi titled:
“Innovation Landscape of Pakistan: What Next?” on April 24, 2025, uniting policymakers, academics, and industry leaders to discuss Pakistan’s
innovation potential. Key highlights of the event included a keynote speech by Dr. Owais Shaikh who presented insights on recent report of
ORIC Scorecard and revealed a rise in local patents (13 in 2001 → 481 in 2004) but flagged a 50% drop in foreign filings. A panel discussion
underscored the need for data-driven reforms, ORIC-led institutional bridges, and ecosystem-wide collaboration to unlock Pakistan’s
innovation potential. This was followed by a dynamic panel discussion, expertly moderated by Dr. Owais, featuring Mr. Saleem Uddin (Director
QA, Sindh HEC), Prof. Dr. Tariq Rahim (Rector, IoBM), Dr. Saeeda Nadir Ali, Associate Professor (ORIC-NED), Mrs. Zubia Hassan (Ex-Acting
Controller of Patents, IPO Pakistan), Mr. Hashim Anhar (Convenor, IPR and Enforcement Committee, FPCCI) and Mr. Kashif Shafi, (Executive
Director, OICCI).
The discussion explored challenges and opportunities in fostering research commercialization, patenting, and startup growth in Pakistan.
Important perspectives from experts such as reasons for rejection of patents, and dependence of universities on enrollments instead of IPR
were discussed in detail. The event concluded with shield distribution to panelists and certificates to organizers by Mr. Talib Karim,
President of IoBM, recognizing their contributions.
“Workshop on Skill-based Incubation Ecosystem for Universities of Sindh”
The Sindh Higher Education Commission (SHEC) and The Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI)
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for “Sindh Startups Exhibition 2024” which took place at the FPCCI head office Karachi on 19th of November 2024.