Lahore, Pakistan — 15 January 2026
Decode Lahore 2026, Pakistan’s premier entrepreneurs’ conference, successfully concluded at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), convening the country’s most influential founders, investors, policymakers, educators, and ecosystem leaders for a full day of strategic dialogue, insight sharing, and national recognition.
Organized by CxO Global Forum, the event featured the Entrepreneur Awards 2026, an exclusive celebration honoring Pakistan’s Top 100 Entrepreneurs—visionary leaders driving innovation, generating employment, and shaping the future of Pakistan’s business and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Held on 15 January 2026, Decode Lahore delivered a comprehensive, agenda-driven program designed to decode the realities of entrepreneurship in Pakistan—from survival and scale to leadership, capital, education, and the future economy .
Opening & Welcome
The conference commenced with the National Anthem and Recitation, followed by welcome remarks and opening notes, setting the tone for a day focused on substance, experience, and impact at LUMS.
Panel 1: Decoding Hardships
Topic: The Unseen Struggle: What It Really Takes to Build & Survive in Pakistan’s Business Landscape
Moderator: Sabahat Bokhari, CEO, The Inclusion Lab
Panelists:
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Anas Wahab, CEO – Middle East & Asia, S4 Digital
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Eitesam Ahmed, CEO, Contegris
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Malik Mudassar, CEO, AppsGenii Inc.
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Mustafa Najoom, Director, Gaper IO
This session offered candid insights into resilience, failure, capital constraints, and operational challenges faced by founders in Pakistan’s evolving business environment.
Panel 2: Decoding the Local Market
Topic: Built for Pakistan: Understanding Consumer Behavior, Market Gaps & Ground Realities
Moderator: Jawad Khan
Panelists:
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Omer Farooq, CEO, Interwood
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Khawaja Saad, CEO, Chop Chop
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Dr. Faisal Kamran, CEO, ADDO AI
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Usman Malik, CEO, Hispar
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Dr. Sarfaraz Ahmed, CEO, Terra Sparks
Panelists discussed market localization, consumer insight, scalability, and designing products for Pakistan’s unique economic realities.
Keynote & Special Addresses
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Air Marshal (R) Ahmad Hassan delivered a keynote on “The Art of Change Management: From Resistance to Results,” drawing parallels between leadership in national institutions and entrepreneurial organizations.
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Zeeshan Sabri addressed the audience with insights on leadership and enterprise development. The Blueprint of Change unpacked why nearly 70% of digital transformations fail and what distinguishes the 30% that succeed. Drawing from $80M+ in large-scale transformation programs, the session reframed transformation not as an initiative, but as an operating system built on clarity, governance, and constraint-based design. The results spoke for themselves: faster deployment, zero compliance breaches, and repeatable execution at scale.
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Haseeb Awan, Founder & CEO, Efani Secure Mobile, and Y Combinator alumnus, presented “Bootstrap or Raise? How Pakistani Founders Can Actually Make Money from Their Startups,” offering practical guidance on funding and sustainability models.
Panel 3: Decoding Leadership
Topic: From Founder to Institution: How Leadership Evolves in Pakistan’s Entrepreneurial Journey
Moderator: Amna Awan, LUMS
Panelists:
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Ali Akhtar, CEO, DynaSys
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Waqar Ali, CEO, Betacodes Pakistan
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Mudassar Abbas, CEO, VizzWeb
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Shaur Ul Asar, Founder, FRIXM Private Limited
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Asim Zia Alam, CEO, Webdoc
The discussion focused on governance, organizational maturity, and the transition from founder-led startups to sustainable institutions.
Insightful Sessions
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CDRS delivered a dedicated session highlighting enterprise and ecosystem perspectives.
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Qaider Abbas, CEO, Academy, shared insights on skills development and entrepreneurial capacity building
Panel 4: Decoding the Future Entrepreneur
Topic: The Next Decade of Entrepreneurship: Skills, Mindsets & Opportunities Across Sectors
Moderator: Sabahat Bokhari, Founder & CEO, The Inclusion Lab
Panelists:
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Uzair Ahmed, CEO, AUC Law
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Zouhair Khaliq, Founder & Managing Partner, Teamup Ventures
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Faisal Aftab, Managing Partner, Zayn VC
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Adnan Yousuf Kazi, Global Chief Operating Officer, Tenx
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Saifullah Khan, Managing Partner, S.U. Khan Associates Corporate & Legal Consultants
This panel explored emerging sectors, venture capital trends, regulatory readiness, and future-proof entrepreneurial skillsets.
Technology & Innovation Showcase
TechAccess in Focus: Mohammad Rehan on Leadership and National Transformation. TechAccess delivered a featured presentation highlighting technology enablement and access for entrepreneurial growth.
Inspiring Keynote
Nassir Kasuri, Director International, Beaconhouse, delivered a keynote focusing on education, leadership, and global perspectives on talent development.
Panel 5: Decoding Human Capital, Talent & Education in Pakistan
Topic: From Classrooms to Boardrooms: Rethinking Education, Skills & Human Capital for Entrepreneurial Economies
Moderator: Jawad Khan, GM, ABM Infotech
Panelists:
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Nassir Kasuri, Director International, Beaconhouse
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Sabahat Bokhari, CEO, The Inclusion Lab
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Dr. Faisal Mushtaq, TI, Founder & CEO, The Millennium Education Group
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Fareeha Zeshan, CEO, Million Smiles
The panel emphasized education reform, skills alignment, and the role of human capital in building competitive entrepreneurial economies.
Driving the New Economy: Insights from Dr. Faisal Mushtaq, TI
Dr. Faisal Mushtaq, TI, Founder & CEO of The Millennium Education Group, delivered a compelling keynote at the Entrepreneur Awards 2026 during Decode Lahore, focusing on “Decoding Modern Education: Building Entrepreneurs for the New Economy.”
Honoring Visionaries: Keynotes & Awards
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Special Award “Entrepreneur of the Year”: Dr. Faisal Mushtaq, TI, Founder & CEO, The Millennium Education Group
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Chief Guest Address: Dr. Amjad Saqib, Founder, Akhuwat
The day concluded with the Entrepreneur Awards 2026, honoring Pakistan’s Top 100 Entrepreneurs, followed by closing remarks celebrating collaboration, impact, and shared national progress.
Decode Lahore 2026 reaffirmed its position as Pakistan’s Entrepreneurs Conference—a platform where entrepreneurs inspire entrepreneurs by decoding real stories, real challenges, and real strategies for sustainable success.
Organized by: CxO Global Forum
Venue: Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)
Date: 15 January 2026
