Every year, Acumen’s Fellowship in Pakistan brings together a group of inspiring leaders committed to a lifelong journey of tackling problems of poverty and building a world based on dignity.

From boosting farm productivity and smallholder farmer incomes to expanding equitable learning opportunities for underserved communities, this 2024 cohort embodies moral imagination: the humility to see the world as it is, and the audacity to imagine it as it could be.

Over six months, the Fellows came together to learn from and with one another through workshops and immersive seminars. Following graduation, they join Acumen’s growing global community of more than 1,800 social innovators who support each other in the shared pursuit of a more just and dignified world. 

Join us in celebrating the newest Pakistan Fellows as they become part of Acumen’s global Foundry community. 

Abdullah is a social development professional with an extensive background in health policy. He holds a bachelor’s in Public Administration from the National University of Sciences and Technology in Pakistan and a master’s in Public Policy from the National University of Singapore. He has led projects with partners including the Senate of Pakistan, UNDP, the Singapore Ministry of Education, CISCO systems, Harvard University, and Columbia University. He has led research on emergency healthcare, AI in health systems, and student well-being. Abdullah currently serves as CEO of Saving 9, where he advances innovative approaches to healthcare access and delivery. 

Arsalan is a public health and development professional with more than eight years of experience designing and implementing large-scale, government-led health initiatives in Pakistan. As Regional Manager for the Pakistan Deworming Initiative at IRD Global, he has overseen treatment delivery to over 11 million children across Sindh and Balochistan. His expertise includes strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and systems strengthening.  Arsalan is committed to building equitable health systems in Pakistan. 

Dabeer is a licensed architect, sustainability advocate, and entrepreneur with more than a decade of experience designing environmentally conscious spaces. He is the Co-founder and Principal of Open Door Design Studio, an award-winning practice centered on human dignity, cultural context, and ecological responsibility, working across corporate, educational, retail, and residential projects. He has co-founded initiatives at the intersection of technology, design, and sustainability, including a startup that converts waste into low-carbon building materials. His work has been recognized by UNDP, the Institute of Architects Pakistan, and UN-Habitat. For Dabeer, design is a tool for change — transforming spaces while promoting more just and sustainable living.

Since 2021, Ghasharib has led product development at Pakistan Agriculture Research (PAR), where he created a commodity market dashboard to support data-driven decision-making. In 2022, he Co-founded Zarai Mandi through NIC Faisalabad to improve price transparency for farmers and traders. He is also the creator and host of the TV show Grow Pakistan on Dawn News, where he highlights expert-led dialogue and monthly explainers on agricultural reform. His writings in The Express Tribune also focus on agriculture policy. Ghasharib holds a degree in History and Philosophy from Bates College, and integrates critical thought, journalism, and technology to push Pakistan’s agriculture sector toward modernization and equity.

Habib is an AgriTech and FinTech entrepreneur passionate about creating social impact through human-centered digital services. He is the Co-founder and Head of Business at FasalPay, a platform that provides farmers with access to digital financial services and market solutions. With a background in engineering, Habib combines his interest in technology, agriculture, and inclusive finance to support smallholder farmers and strengthen rural economies.

Hashim is a Pakistani entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in strategy and operations across startups and Fortune 500 companies. He founded ReupCycle, a circular economy startup focused on reducing  plastic waste and empowering marginalized waste workers. He is now building LAAM, a curated fashion marketplace  that showcases and scales South Asian brands. Hashim holds an MBA from LUMS and is committed to creating businesses that prioritize people and the planet.

Hina is an education professional focused on creating equitable learning opportunities for underserved communities in Pakistan. As Senior Officer in the Assessment Unit at the Sindh Education Foundation, she leads reforms in school-based assessment across hundreds of public-private partnership schools. She previously worked at Zindagi Trust, where she helped design life skills and philosophy curricula aimed to build critical thinking among students. Hina is passionate about inclusive education, systemic change, and making learning more meaningful and accessible. 

Kanza holds a master’s degree in education leadership, organizations, and entrepreneurship from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she was a Fulbright Scholar. She has nearly six years of experience in education and international development, working across research, policy, and management. She is currently a Senior Research Associate at Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA), a national platform advancing lifelong education and progressive learning opportunities for children, adolescents, and youth through innovation and partnerships.

Prof. Dr. Madeeha Malik is a pharmacist, public health expert, and gender equity advocate. She holds a PhD in Pharmacy Practice from Universiti Sains Malaysia and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at North-West University, South Africa. As Founder and CEO of Cyntax Health Projects, a women-led Clinical Research Organization (CRO), she conducts clinical trials across Pakistan and works to advance equitable healthcare. She is the youngest and only female Professor of Pharmacy Practice in Pakistan, and has held leadership roles at Hamdard University and the University of Illinois, Chicago. In 2023, she launched Fempure, a movement to end period poverty and menstrual stigma by producing sustainable menstrual hygiene products and training women educators. For this work, Fempure was recognized as 1st Runner-Up at the UN Women Asia-Pacific WEP Awards for Gender-Responsive Marketplace.

Maha Husain is the Founder and Executive Director of the Climate & Environment Initiative (CEI), an independent initiative focused on strengthening legal solutions to address climate change and environmental challenges in Pakistan and globally. CEI works with the government, academics, civil society, and youth to promote indigenous engagement with environmental law in Pakistan and foster cross-border knowledge-sharing. Maha completed her law degree at the University of Cambridge (Downing College), where she earned the Senior Harris Scholarship, and holds professional certifications in climate change law, water diplomacy, and planetary health. She is committed to making environmental law accessible to empower local communities to use legal mechanisms to safeguard themselves and their ecosystems more effectively.  

Maira is the founder of Chiragh Education Technologies, a Shark Tank-funded startup that develops Urdu-based cartoons and educational games to decolonize learning in Pakistan. She is also a Senior Lecturer and Head of Entrepreneurship at KSBL, where she oversees undergraduate capstone projects, the school’s incubation program, and the Entrepreneurship Centre.

Faheem is a peace advocate, filmmaker, and co-founder of Mehrdar Art & Production, a youth-led initiative that promotes community resilience through civic engagement, media literacy, and inclusive development. For more than a decade, he has mobilized young people in conflict-affected areas of Pakistan to counter violence, misinformation, and social exclusion through creative storytelling, awareness campaigns, and dialogue. Since 2012, he has led impactful P/CVE initiatives across Pakistan, engaging youth, women, and minorities through films and community-driven projects. In 2020, he founded Mehr-Ghar, Lyari Karachi’s first community space for civic learning and youth development, which provides a platform for poetry, film, peace dialogues, and leadership training.

Talha is a social entrepreneur committed to advancing health equity in South Asia. He is the Co-founder of BeMe, a Pakistan-based mental health organization delivering accessible, culturally responsive, and tech-enabled well-being solutions for individuals and workplaces. With a background in healthcare systems and organizational leadership, he focuses on closing the mental health gap in underserved communities and advocating for mental health as a pillar of social development. Through BeMe, he is introducing mental health ESG advisory services to help companies embed well-being and inclusion into their sustainability agendas.

Osman is the Country Director for Viamo in Pakistan, where he leads strategic partnerships and digital innovation to drive social impact through mobile technology. He has over 17 years of experience in telecommunications, financial services, fintech, and international development. Prior to Viamo, he served as CEO of Kuunda's Pakistan subsidiary, driving fintech solutions for mobile money agents. He has also held senior roles at Acumen, Telenor, and major financial institutions in Pakistan, specializing in digital transformation, financial inclusion, and impact investing. Osman holds an MBA from the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, and an engineering degree from the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST). He is committed to leveraging technology and market-driven solutions to address systemic inequities.

Rutaba is the Country Coordinator for Model OIC Pakistan at the Islamic Conference Youth Forum, a volunteer-led organization that equips social sciences students with skills in diplomacy, politics, and policymaking for careers in these fields. She also serves as Regional Program Coordinator at Faith for Our Planet, where she leads the world’s first Youth Interfaith Leaders Fellowship on Climate Change at Duke University. A double gold medalist, Rutaba holds a master and bachelors in International Relations from the University of Karachi.

Sidra is a contemporary visual artist, art educationist, and social entrepreneur. She is the Co-founder and Director Programmes of Discovering New Artists, a social enterprise in Pakistan that promotes creative learning opportunities for children and youth, especially from marginalized communities. Under her leadership, Discovering New Artists has benefited over 160,000 individuals globally and was recognized among the top 100 innovative education organizations by HundrED.org. Sidra is part of global networks including the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, Catalyst 2030, PUAN, and SDSN Youth. Her work has earned her the Emerging Leadership Award by the U.S. Consulate General in Lahore and the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network. She is a graduate of the National College of Arts, and a scholarship alumna of Endicott College, USA.

Syed is an internationally acclaimed wildlife and environmental filmmaker, a National Geographic Certified Educator, and a dynamic voice in climate communication, biodiversity conservation, and youth engagement in Pakistan and beyond. With over 11 years of experience in media and environmental storytelling, he has worked across Pakistan, Malaysia, Singapore, the UAE, and for media houses in the UK, USA, and Europe. He is the Founder of MPCEN (Media Project on Conservation, Environment, and Nature) and the visionary behind PIWEFF,  Pakistan’s first wildlife and eco film festival dedicated to conservation, eco-activism, and environmental storytelling. He also runs Find Focus Films, a media and education initiative producing award-winning climate documentaries, short films, explainer videos, and podcasts under banners such as Climate Bulletin. His digital content has reached global audiences and earned recognition for spotlighting underreported environmental issues from Pakistan. He currently seeks collaborations with NGOs, academic institutions, and diplomatic missions to advance regional climate action.

Tahir is an agri-food systems and climate action entrepreneur and the Co-founder of Vital Green Pvt Ltd. Fueled by personal experiences, his work focuses on empowering rural youth, transforming food losses into opportunity, and promoting sustainable agriculture. Through solutions such as solar drying and data-driven tools, his work is supporting smallholder farmers, regenerating soils, and advancing climate resilience in Pakistan. 

Umair is the Founder and Managing Director of Innovate47, an accelerator supporting climate, sustainability, and impact-driven startups across South Asia and Africa. With over 20 years of experience in tech ventures, alternative finance, and ecosystem building, he also serves as a Director at Founder Institute and contributes to platforms such as Stanford Seed, Orbit Startups, and various national incubation programs in Pakistan. Umair is committed to empowering founders tackling real-world challenges and building ecosystems grounded in purpose, inclusion, and long-term impact.

Usama is an engineering and innovation professional with expertise in business incubation, product development, and entrepreneurship ecosystem building across the UK and Pakistan. As an ILO-certified SIYB trainer, he has trained and mentored over 600 entrepreneurs, focusing on capacity building and economic empowerment. In his role as Deputy Manager Projects at Ignite — National Technology Fund, he leads national initiatives such as the National Incubation Center (NIC) program, WISE Lab for women’s empowerment, the K-12 Entrepreneurship Program, and the World Bank-funded Digital Economy Enhancement Project (DEEP), advancing digital transformation and strengthening Pakistan’s startup ecosystem.

Zaira is a financial inclusion strategist focused on women, persons with disabilities, and underrepresented communities in Pakistan through green skills. She is a certified festival director and community builder with a track record of empowering women and entrepreneurs with special needs. Zaira has coached, mentored, and advised more than 2,000 women-led businesses, providing guidance and support to both teams and individuals.

Zenab is an education and management professional with more than 16 years of experience teaching adolescents and adults, building teams, and providing mentorship. She has worked closely with communities to strengthen relationships, support local interventions, and promote inclusive education. Her work centers on empowering and uplifting others, fostering collaboration, and creating more meaningful approaches to learning. 

Interested in becoming a Fellow? Learn more about the Acumen Pakistan Fellowship here.