Thought Behind Things

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Maha Shahzad, the founder & CEO of Buscaro — Pakistan’s first tech-enabled bus-sharing startup that’s making everyday commuting safer, smarter, and more affordable for thousands of Pakistanis. From doing odd jobs to fund her education, to building a profitable transport startup without a degree, Maha’s story is pure resilience. She shar...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Jerjees Seja, CEO of ARY Digital Network, one of Pakistan’s most iconic media leaders. From shaping the country’s TV and drama landscape to building ARY into a powerhouse of entertainment, Jerjees shares his journey of transforming Pakistan’s media industry. We discuss: How Pakistan’s private TV revolution began The economics behind news, d...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Arif Lakhani, Co-Founder of QistBazaar, Pakistan’s fastest-growing fintech platform making anything, from bikes to fridges, available on easy installments. We explore: How QistBazaar gives access to credit without traditional banking Why 90% of startup funding never enters Pakistan’s economy Are easy installments driving consumerism and deb...

Find out more about Endeavor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pakistan.endeavor.org⁠⁠ In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Umair Masoom Usmani, the Founder of Myco, a rapidly growing OTT and creator-monetization platform redefining how people consume, fund, and earn from content across emerging markets. After leaving Dubai’s corporate comfort, Umair built one of Pakistan’s fastest-scaling digital...

Find out more about Endeavor: ⁠⁠⁠https://pakistan.endeavor.org⁠⁠ In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Saad Afridi, the Founder & CEO of Scents N Stories, Pakistan’s leading fragrance brand with over 40 outlets, 300+ employees, and one of the top 5 players in the country’s perfume market. From starting with men’s grooming products to building a nationwide perfume empire, Sa...

Find out more about Endeavor: ⁠⁠https://pakistan.endeavor.org⁠ In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Saad Riaz, Co-Founder of Kickstart Pakistan, the country’s one of the largest coworking network powering thousands of professionals and businesses every day. Saad opens up about how Kickstart survived Pakistan’s toughest economic years, scaled sustainably, and redefined what “wo...

Find out more about Endeavor: ⁠https://pakistan.endeavor.org⁠ In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Syed Zeeshan Haider, the Founder and Director of Dipitt, Pakistan’s No.1 sauce brand exporting to over 33 countries worldwide. A LUMS graduate and engineer by training, Zeeshan began his career managing top tobacco brands before making a life-changing decision, leaving the indust...

Find out more about Endeavor: https://pakistan.endeavor.org In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Zayaan Bawanay, the Co-Founder & CEO of TicketWala, Pakistan’s largest entertainment marketplace redefining how events, concerts, and live experiences are built. From selling his own birthday tickets to running a company with 95% market share, Zayaan shares the wild journey of...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things , we’re joined by Dayyan , a young, super-talented and rising stand-up comedian and content creator known for his sharp wit and humor. From small open mics to sold-out shows, Dayyan shares his unfiltered journey through Pakistan’s evolving stand-up scene, the struggles, the experiments, and the state of comedy in a sensitive country like Pakistan. We uncove...

Find out more about Endeavor: ⁠https://pakistan.endeavor.org⁠ In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Ali Farid Khawaja, Chairman of KTrade Securities, Pakistan’s leading investment platform enabling thousands of Pakistanis to invest smartly and become part of the country’s growing capital markets. With a global background in finance and technology, having worked at UBS, Berenber...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Sannan Saleh, a filmmaker, storyteller, and creative producer who’s worked with global giants like Comedy Central in Los Angeles before returning to Pakistan. Sannan shares an unfiltered look at the real state of Pakistan’s entertainment industry, its creative challenges, and the opportunities AI now brings. We explore: How his journey from...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things , we’re joined by Sikandar Nawaz and Moiz Nawaz - two multi-talented brothers who’ve carved their own creative paths in Pakistan’s evolving entertainment industry. From Bhatti Gate to the big screen , the Nawaz brothers share an honest, heartfelt conversation about their journey - from madrassah life and acting struggles to music, content creation, and the...

Find out more about Endeavor: https://pakistan.endeavor.org In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Arif Iqbal, the Co-Founder & CEO of LAAM, a fashion-tech startup transforming how South Asian brands scale globally through technology and logistics. With a stellar background as an engineering leader at Facebook, Microsoft, Pinterest, and eBay, Arif shares how LAAM is building...

Find out more about Endeavor: https://pakistan.endeavor.org In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Abbas Raza Bukhari, a rising stand-up comedian, storyteller, and content creator of Pakistan’s digital comedy scene. From hating Instagram and never planning to create content to building a loyal audience through relatable, family-friendly humor, Abbas walks us through his journey...

Find out more about Endeavor: https://pakistan.endeavor.org In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Omar Shah, the Co-Founder & CEO of COLABS, Pakistan’s leading coworking space platform with over $5M in funding. From his early days at Abraaj Capital to building a workspace empire in Pakistan, Omar breaks down the real challenges of scaling startups, building brand credibilit...

Find out more about Endeavor: https://pakistan.endeavor.org In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Muneeb Zafar, founder of Fitted, one of Pakistan’s fastest-growing men’s fashion brands. From starting without retail stores to building a strong D2C presence through quality fabrics and bold aesthetics, Muneeb shares how he built a sustainable business in a cash-burning fashion in...

Find out more about Endeavor: https://pakistan.endeavor.org In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Jawwad Hasan, CEO & co-founder of Agrilift, and Salar Malik, Chief Innovation & Sustainability Officer at FFC. Together, they unpack how corporate partnerships are attempting to transform Pakistan’s outdated agriculture sector through farmer-friendly technology, data, and m...

Find out more about Endeavor: ⁠https://pakistan.endeavor.org⁠ In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we're joined by Saad Farrukh, founder of EVEE, Pakistan’s fastest-growing electric scooter company. Coming from a conventional motorcycle spare parts business on McLeod Road, Saad transitioned into the EV space after years of importing parts from China and setting up local assembly. We dive into...

Find out more about Endeavor: https://pakistan.endeavor.org In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Muhammad Omer Khan, Founder & CEO of PostEx, Pakistan’s largest e-commerce logistics & cashflow solutions provider — operating across Tier 1 to Tier 3 cities with over 11,000 employees and handling 3x more COD cash than any competitor. This episode answers: Why PostEx skipp...

Find out more about Endeavor: https://pakistan.endeavor.org In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Adnan Shaffi, Co-Founder of PriceOye — Pakistan’s leading online tech marketplace that's processing over 5% of the country's total mobile phone purchases. This episode answers: What makes Pakistan a high-risk, high-reward market for startups How to attract global VC interest in a v...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Dr. Saira Siddique, Founder & +CEO of medIQ Smart Healthcare, a digital health platform revolutionizing healthcare access in Pakistan. Before founding medIQ, Dr. Saira led several major health initiatives with the Government of Pakistan until a tragic road accident left her paralyzed from the neck down. But that wasn’t the end, it was t...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Miral Sharif, the Country Head of Yango Pakistan, who previously held leadership roles at Swvl, Daraz, and Zong. Miral shares her personal journey, the challenges of working in male-dominated industries, and the future of ride-sharing in Pakistan. This episode answers: What is Yango doing differently in Pakistan? Can we actually build a one...

Joining us today is Jahanzeb Burana, Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of National Institute of Technology (NIT), Pakistan’s first American-affiliated university launching in 2025. With an MBA from Harvard and a decade of experience in public policy, investments, and education reform, Jahanzeb shares the vision behind building a globally competitive, student-centric university in Pakistan. In this epis...

Joining us today is Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, the current Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, with decades of experience leading Pakistan’s education reform. Dr. Mukhtar offers an unfiltered view on the gaps in our current system and what needs to change. In this episode, we dive deep into why Pakistan’s degrees are becoming irrelevant, how outdated policies are killing innovation...

Joining us today is Jonathan Mark Tatti, the Co founder & CEO of Begin Watch, a new Pakistani OTT platform competing with global giants like Netflix and HBO. With over 20 years in the media industry, Jonathan played key roles at Zee TV, CNBC Pakistan, and SAMAA TV, launching some of the region’s most iconic content and channels. In this episode, we dive into the real story behind Pakistan’s st...