Four Pakistanis who Made their Way into Forbes ’30 Under 30’ in Asia List 2022

When four Pakistani entrepreneurs were nominated to Forbes’ Asia’s “30 Under 30” list for 2022, it was a source of national pride.

For their contributions to e-commerce, enterprise technology, and other industries, Zain Ahmed, Dur-e-Aziz Amna, Muhammad Saad, and Shawana Shah are featured in the business publication. In the categories of art and style, industry and manufacturing, media and marketing, and social influence, entrepreneurs have been honoured.

According to the Forbes website, “all of the awardees in the Forbes Under 30 Class of 2022 have overcome the odds: overcoming a global epidemic, supply chain bottlenecks, and isolation to establish resilient enterprises destined to impact the world.”

Dur e Aziz Amna

Dur e Aziz Amna is a Yale graduate who is Pakistani-American. She is an award-winning novelist who has published several books. Her debut novel, American Fever, is a coming-of-age story about a Pakistani Muslim girl in rural Oregon, based on her cross-cultural experiences in South Asia and the United States. Dur e Aziz Amna has contributed to Dawn, Al Jazeera, the Financial Times, and the New York Times, among other publications.

Muhammad Saad

Muhammad Saad is the co-founder of BridgeLinx, a Lahore-based company that uses a marketplace to connect Pakistani manufacturers and exporters with truckers and private fleets to help them move goods more efficiently. It also provides technical solutions for document verification, timely pickups, and cargo security.

Zain Ahmad

Rastah, a Pakistani streetwear fashion label, was co-founded by the designer in 2018. His designs have been worn by a number of celebrities, including Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar, Oscar-winning actor Riz Ahmed, and rapper French Montana. According to the Forbes description, the company “champions sustainable and artisanal designs, with goods conceived, sourced, and made in limited quantities by local artisans in Pakistan.”

Shawana Shah

Forbes recognised Shawana Shah’s work on gender equality and social impact. She is the co-founder of ‘Da Hawwa Lur,’ a platform that supports Pakistani girls, women, and transgender people on political, social, and economic levels.