Round II of Prime Minister’s National Innovation Award concludes at NUST

The much-awaited award ceremony of the second round of Prime Minister’s National Innovation Award (PMNIA) was held at the National University of Sciences & Technology on Monday. The chief guest, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs (SAPM-YA) Ms Shaza Fatima Khawaja, spoke highly of the brightest young minds for showcasing groundbreaking innovations and entrepreneurial ventures at the competition. Prominent amongst others present were DG R&D HEC, Hazrat Bilal and Pro-Rector RIC NUST, Dr Rizwan Riaz.

PMNIA is a special initiative under the auspices of Prime Minister’s Youth Program. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan is executing the project in close collaboration with NUST. The initiative is aimed at nurturing a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship by enabling young innovators to bring their ideas to life and create a positive discernible impact on society.

The award ceremony witnessed the announcement of top 50 startups from a pool of 250 exceptional participants from across Pakistan. From amongst the winning startups, the top 10 received a grant of PKR 1 million each, while each of the remaining 40 received a grant of PKR 0.5 million. The chief guest handed over the cheques to winning startups and announced an additional PKR 1 million support in the form of a 6-month incubation programme.

“The Prime Minister’s National Innovation Award is a testament to our nation’s young talent and their potential to drive innovation and progress,” remarked Ms Shaza Fatima. She maintained that the government is fully committed to providing necessary resources and support to help these bright minds excel and lead our country towards prosperity.