This year’s Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list has recognised seven Pakistanis for their achievements across diverse fields, ranging from technology and finance to science, media, entertainment, and sports.
Forbes noted that this year’s honourees include entrepreneurs developing innovations in robotics and artificial intelligence, as well as investors, artists, athletes, and scientists who are “pushing boundaries in every industry.”
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The publication described the selected individuals as “changemakers in 10 categories who are transforming their industries.”
Syed Ismail
Syed Ismail, co-founder of Karachi-based startup Saraaf, was listed in the Consumer and Enterprise Technology category. He launched Saraaf in 2021 with the aim of digitising commodity sourcing and improving transparency in the sector.
The platform is preparing to introduce a mobile application that will help businesses source materials such as onyx and cotton across Central and South Asia, offering real-time pricing, shipment tracking, digital contracts, and live chat features.
In 2024, Saraaf also secured a $5.3 million investment commitment from Shark Tank Pakistan.
Founders of Plouton AI
Muhammad Furqan Karim Kidwai and Sarfraz Shahid Hussain were recognised in the Finance and Venture Capital category for co-founding Singapore-based Plouton AI.
The company operates as an agentic automation platform designed to help mid-sized firms automate finance-related workflows. It uses browser-based AI agents to manage tasks such as invoicing, payroll processing, and month-end reconciliation within existing systems like Xero, QuickBooks, and Excel, reducing the need for expensive enterprise software.
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Kidwai was inspired to build the fintech solution after observing how finance teams in emerging markets still depend heavily on spreadsheets and emails.
The duo, both graduates of Habib University, had earlier co-founded YPay Financial Services, a startup enabling users to invest digitally in mutual funds.
Maheera Ghani
Dr Maheera Ghani, a PhD graduate from the University of Cambridge, is currently conducting postdoctoral research in materials science, focusing on ultra-thin semiconductors.
Her education initiative WinSci Pakistan received the Nature Inspiring Women in Science award from the Estée Lauder Companies and Springer Nature, recognising her efforts to encourage women to pursue careers in science.
Expressing her gratitude for the recognition, Ghani said her journey has been “filled with immense joy,” adding that she feels “overwhelmed with gratitude and pride” to represent Pakistan on such a global platform. She described her work at the intersection of science, innovation, and impact as deeply meaningful.
Fahad Shahbaz
Fahad Shahbaz, who founded the Youth General Assembly in 2015 at the age of 18, was recognised for his contributions to youth leadership and civic engagement.
The Youth General Assembly is modelled after the UK Parliament and Pakistan’s National Assembly, bringing together 96 young participants annually to debate policy and develop recommendations on governance issues.
Shahbaz has previously received the Diana Award (2023) and is part of the Pakistan Chapter of the World Economic Forum Global Shapers Community. He holds a Master of Laws degree from the University of Law in London.
Reacting to the recognition, he said the honour belongs not just to him but to all those who supported his journey, adding that true social impact is rooted in service and responsibility. He also remarked that Pakistan’s future is being shaped by its youth.
Hania Aamir
Hania Aamir, placed in the Entertainment & Sports category, is among Pakistan’s most prominent actors and the most-followed Pakistani woman on Instagram, with around 20 million followers.
She made her film debut in 2016 and rose to widespread fame the following year for her performance in the romantic drama Phir Wohi Mohabbat.
She is set to appear in Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo, which will be Netflix’s first Pakistani original series scheduled for release later this year.
Saman Kamran
Saman Kamran, a Pakistani filmmaker, was also included in the list for her creative contributions.
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Her documentary Gandhara: Land of Fragrance was officially selected for the Cortomontagna-Premio Leggimontagna 2022. In 2024, she collaborated with New York-based artist Wong Kit Yi on the experimental film The Bed She Made, which explores themes of fertility and ecological collapse in Asia.
In the same year, her stop-motion music video for the Pakistani grunge band Skehlaaj’s See Through the Sin won Best Music Video at the Film Tuition International Festival.
