Pakistan’s startup landscape is entering a new era of opportunity, innovation, and growth. In a major step toward strengthening the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) and the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) have jointly established 13 new National Incubation Centers (NICs) under the National Expansion Plan (NEP).
This expansion marks one of the most significant nationwide efforts to support early-stage startups and empower young entrepreneurs across Pakistan.
Expanding Startup Support Across Pakistan
Unlike earlier initiatives that were concentrated in major cities, the National Expansion Plan aims to make innovation accessible to every region. Therefore, all newly established NICs are located within universities to provide students and young founders easy access to training, mentorship, and incubation facilities.
Locations of the New Incubation Centers
The 13 NICs have been launched across six regions:
Punjab
- Lahore
- Rawalpindi
- Gujrat
- Taxila
Sindh
- Karachi
- Jamshoro
- Sukkur
Balochistan
- Quetta
- Lasbela
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- Swat
- Kohat
Gilgit-Baltistan
- Gilgit
Azad Jammu & Kashmir
- Muzaffarabad
This widespread geographic coverage ensures that innovators from remote and underserved regions now have the same opportunities as those in major urban centers.
National Expansion Plan: Strengthening Pakistan’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Launched in 2021, the National Expansion Plan (NEP) was designed to address a key challenge: most Pakistanis with entrepreneurial potential lack access to guidance, exposure, and resources.
Since its launch, the program has:
- Received 124,000+ applications from across Pakistan
- Successfully incubated 690 startups
- Supported founders of which 25% are female entrepreneurs
- Helped startups generate over Rs. 1.1 billion in revenue
- Contributed to creating approximately 120,000 direct and indirect jobs
These numbers highlight the growing demand for structured startup support and the potential of Pakistan’s youth-led digital economy.
What Startups Receive: A Complete Zero-Equity Support Package
One of the most appealing aspects of NEP is its zero-equity model — meaning the government takes no share from the startups it supports. Instead, selected teams receive:
- Monthly stipends
- Free co-working spaces
- Mentorship from industry experts
- Business development guidance
- Legal and financial assistance
- National-level networking opportunities
- Access to investor meetups and demo days
This holistic approach enables innovators to focus on building sustainable businesses without worrying about early-stage financial barriers.
Why This Matters for Pakistan
Pakistan’s startup ecosystem has shown impressive promise in recent years, especially in sectors like fintech, edtech, agritech, e-commerce, and health tech. However, many young entrepreneurs still struggle with limited access to resources, mentorship, and industry exposure.
The launch of these 13 new NICs fills that gap. Moreover, by embedding incubation centers directly into university environments, the initiative will help unlock fresh talent and encourage research-driven innovation.
Most importantly, this effort helps Pakistan shift toward a more digital, entrepreneurial, and job-creating economy — essential for long-term economic stability.
Looking Ahead
Pakistan’s expansion of incubation infrastructure signals a clear commitment to nurturing startups and supporting innovation at a national scale. As these centers begin operations, thousands of students and aspiring founders will finally receive the guidance and tools they need to transform ideas into thriving businesses.
With more opportunities now available across the country, Pakistan’s next wave of technology-driven entrepreneurs is just getting started — and the future looks brighter than ever.
