The world today has again seen the incredible talent and entrepreneurship of Pakistani youth. The prestigious American business magazine, Forbes, has officially unveiled its 11th annual Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2026 class. This prestigious index marks 300 innovators, leaders and change-makers under 30 from the Asia-Pacific region who are pioneering the use of technology, art and social enterprise, to transform industries.
In this year alone, seven Pakistanis have found a place in the list this year. From entertainment to science, finance to enterprise software, these young icons have created their own space and symbolized resilience and innovation in Pakistan. Let’s delve into these seven great stars.
1. Hania Aamir: The Queen of South Asian Television (Entertainment & Sports)
Undeniably, one of the most prominent personalities in the Pakistani media landscape, actress Hania Aamir has been acknowledged for her monumental impact on television and digital entertainment. In more than 10 years of career, Hania has produced huge hit television dramas, such as the global blockbuster Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum. She has amassed an astounding following of more than 20 Million on Instagram, which now makes her the most followed girl in Pakistan. In addition to her commercial achievements, she is also actively engaged in advocacy, and is the UN Women National Goodwill Ambassador for Pakistan.
2. Dr. Maheera Ghani: Revolutionizing Semiconductor Materials (Healthcare & Science)
Being the pinnacle of scientific research, Dr. Maheera Ghani has secured her place for her pioneering work in material sciences. Dr. Ghani earned a PhD in materials science from Cambridge University and is currently a postdoctoral at the University of Cambridge working on ultra-thin semiconductors with a strong impact on future technologies. She is not only innovating in the lab but also spearheading an initiative specifically designed to promote, encourage and champion scientific education and scientific career among the women in Pakistan named WinSci Pakistan. Her achievements reinforce the importance of infrastructure for STEM, which is highly critical and is being actively promoted by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) among others.
3. Fahad Shahbaz: Fostering Youth Leadership and Public Policy (Social Impact)
Fahad Shahbaz was chosen under the ‘Social Impact’ category, and is one of the top youth diplomats and community organizers. Fahad started the Youth General Assembly (YGA) at the age of 18, as an independent organization that aims to provide structural exposure of young people to public policy, governance structures and to the legislative debate. He was one of the recipients of the prestigious UK Diana Award and has been selected as a strategic player which reflects the potential of Pakistan’s emerging leaders.
4. Saman Kamran: Amplifying Social and Environmental Voices (Entertainment & Sports)
Joining Hania Aamir in the creative spaces, filmmaker Saman Kamran has been recognized by Forbes for her thought-provoking visual storytelling. Kamran’s cinematic work focuses deeply on humanizing complex social, cultural, and environmental struggles native to Pakistan. By bringing authentic domestic issues to localized and international festival circuits, she has cemented herself as a critical voice among Asia’s young creative minds.
5 & 6. Muhammad Furqan Karim Kidwai & Sarfraz Shahid Hussain: AI Financial Automation (Finance & Venture Capital)
This dynamic entrepreneurial duo—both proud graduates of Habib University—co-founded Plouton AI, a Singapore-based fintech venture that secured them a spot in the finance category. Plouton AI acts as an agentic automation system helping mid-market enterprises automate repetitive workflows like invoicing and payroll directly within existing tools like Excel or QuickBooks. By leveraging browser-based AI agents, they save emerging market businesses from purchasing overly expensive enterprise software. Prior to this, they also built YPay Financial Services, a digital mutual fund investment app in Pakistan. Their journey serves as a blueprint for tech startups hoping to utilize regional incubation initiatives like the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme.
7. Syed Ismail: Championing Digital Financial Inclusivity (Enterprise Technology)
Syed Ismail, a Karachi-based entrepreneur, is the seventh addition to be added to the stellar list under the Enterprise Technology banner. Ismail is currently a Co-Founder of Saraaf, a fintech and socio-welfare startup that leverages the modern financial channels in the traditional industries. His research is mainly on the streamlined micro-transactions, facilitating the smooth transition of small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) in the fast growing digital economy of Pakistan.
