Mobilink to Launch Pakistan’s Largest Tech Incubator under the National ICT R&D Fund

Islamabad – 18 May, 2016:  In order to boost Pakistan’s vibrant and emerging Tech ecosystem, Mobilink is all set to establish Jazz’s ‘National Incubation Center’. The center will build upon the Government’s ambition for a Digital Pakistan and will be setup under the National ICT R&D fund.

The incubation center will be a first of its kind innovation hub to nurture and grow talent from across Pakistan under the unique ‘Jazz XLR8 Program’. The program will bridge the gap between Entrepreneurs, Innovators and Investors, while providing state-of-the-art incubation facilities and access to experts and advisors.

On this welcome move by the government to make a meaningful impact on the burgeoning tech industry, Dr. Ismail Shah, Chairman PTA and acting CEO of the ICT R&D fund said, “We are excited to launch the National Incubation Center to support the talented youth of Pakistan and an experienced partner like Mobilink will definitely help in raising the bar for startups in the country.”

Jeffrey Hedberg, President & CEO – Mobilink, upon signing the MoU with the ICT R&D Fund, said, “This is the time for Pakistani startups to take charge of their digital destiny and it gives us immense pleasure to be working with the Government of Pakistan in building the foundation of a sustainable tech ecosystem. A joint public-private partnership provides resources and expertise to enable young entrepreneurs to fulfill their potential and assists them in making their mark across the communities of Pakistan.”

“As a leader in the Digital Revolution, we see a lot of untapped opportunity and potential in the Pakistani market with young resilient startups eager to change the world. We aim to inspire, support and grow our local talent as they band together to lead Pakistan towards a better future in line with our brand ambitions. By taking a hold of such an opportunity, we want the world to know that our country’s youth has immense potential and are willing to use that potential to bring positive changes in the society,” added Aamir Ibrahim, Deputy CEO & CCO – Mobilink.

Mobilink will be operating this world class incubator with its service delivery partner Team Up, bringing expertise of seasoned industry veterans like Zouhair Khaliq and Pervaiz Abbasi, who shall be leading the operations. Jazz’s National Incubation Center could start scouting for Pakistan’s next top startups as early as July 2016.

This latest initiative is also aligned with VimpelCom’s group-wide ‘Make Your Mark’ (MYM) program. Under the program Mobilink has collaborated with LUMS Center for Entrepreneurship (LCE) to provide support and mentorship to 15 startups currently incubated there.  VimpelCom and its operating companies are working across the globe to enhance entrepreneurial ecosystem and to provide guidance to the new generation of digital entrepreneurs. Similar programs are also being implemented in Eurasia, Algeria, Italy and Bangladesh.

About Mobilink

Mobilink is Pakistan’s leading provider of voice and data services. With over 37.8 million subscribers, Mobilink maintains market leadership with coverage in over 20,000 cities, towns and villages across Pakistan. With an investment of USD 4.3 billion in Pakistan, Mobilink continues to innovate through cutting-edge, state of the art technology, a portfolio of Mobile Financial Services, strongest brands, the largest portfolio of value added services, the largest bio-metric SIM verification footprint as well as the country’s largest network with over 10,000 cell sites. The company also has the largest distribution and call center network that enables it to offer wider accessibility and quality customer services across Pakistan.