Pakistanis in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2026
Pakistan is making the world sit up and take notice. Seven extraordinary young Pakistanis have earned their place on one of the most prestigious youth recognition platforms on the planet. The Pakistanis in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2026 list spans entertainment, science, technology, finance and social impact, proving that Pakistani talent is no longer just emerging quietly but is now standing confidently on the world stage. Here is everything you need to know about every Pakistani on this historic list.
Pakistan Makes History | 7 Young Stars on Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2026
The Pakistanis in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2026 achievement is historic for several reasons. This is the 11th annual edition of the Forbes Asia list and it recognises 300 young leaders across the entire Asia Pacific region. Out of those 300, seven spots belong to Pakistan, spread across five separate categories. The Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Pakistan list this year includes representation in Entertainment and Sports, Healthcare and Science, Consumer and Enterprise Technology, Finance and Social Impact — making it one of the most diverse and wide-ranging years for Pakistani inclusion in the history of the list.
Forbes described this year’s honorees as changemakers who are transforming their industries, from tech and science to social impact and media. The Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Pakistan list has previously featured names like Arshad Nadeem, Momina Mustehsan, Misha Japanwala and Bushra Sultan. But 2026 marks one of the strongest and most diverse Pakistani showings the list has ever seen, and the entire nation is celebrating.
Hania Aamir and Saman Kamran | Pakistan’s Entertainment Icons Go Global
The name generating the most buzz from this year’s list is undoubtedly Hania Aamir Forbes 30 Under 30 recognition in the Entertainment and Sports category. Hania has become one of the most recognisable faces in Pakistani entertainment, building a television career over the past decade that has earned her a following that extends far beyond Pakistan’s borders. She recently became Pakistan’s most followed woman on Instagram with over 20 million followers, a milestone that reflects her extraordinary reach across South Asia and the Pakistani diaspora worldwide.
The Hania Aamir Forbes 30 Under 30 recognition also highlights her upcoming role in Netflix’s first ever original series from Pakistan, a milestone that positions her at the absolute forefront of Pakistan’s push into global streaming entertainment. She also serves as United Nations Women’s National Goodwill Ambassador for Pakistan, adding a layer of social significance to her already impressive profile. Joining her in the Entertainment and Sports category is filmmaker Saman Kamran, whose work consistently explores social and environmental issues through a distinctly Pakistani lens. Last year Pakistan had no representatives in the entertainment category on this list, making the inclusion of both Hania and Saman this year an especially powerful moment for Pakistani cinema and television.
Maheera Ghani | From Cambridge to Forbes | Pakistan’s Science Star
One of the most inspiring stories on this year’s Maheera Ghani Cambridge Forbes recognition is the journey of a Pakistani woman who went from Karachi to one of the world’s most prestigious universities and is now changing the future of technology. Maheera Ghani completed her PhD in materials science at Cambridge University in 2025 and continued postdoctoral research on ultra-thin semiconductors that have direct applications in next-generation electronics and computing.
The Maheera Ghani Cambridge Forbes moment is also a story about women in science. Her initiative WinSci Pakistan is an education project specifically designed to encourage Pakistani women to pursue careers in science and research. The project won the Nature Inspiring Women in Science award from Estee Lauder Companies and Springer Nature, bringing international recognition to her efforts at home. Reacting to the Pakistanis in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2026 honour, Ghani said that researching next-generation semiconductors at Cambridge and working at the intersection of science, innovation and impact has been an amazing journey filled with immense joy. Her story is proof that Pakistani women belong at the very highest levels of global scientific research.
Pluton AI, Saraaf and Fahad Shahbaz | Pakistan’s Tech and Social Impact Heroes
The Pluton AI Forbes Pakistan recognition shines a spotlight on Muhammad Furqan Karim Kidwai and Sarfraz Shahid Hussain, two Pakistani co-founders who identified a major gap in financial management for medium-sized businesses across emerging markets. Their Singapore-backed startup Pluton AI develops automation tools that simplify payroll systems, invoicing and accounting operations for businesses that still rely heavily on spreadsheets and manual workflows. Forbes recognised the duo in the Finance category, highlighting them as builders of scalable technology backed by Antler Singapore.
Another tech standout is Syed Ismail, the Karachi-based co-founder of Saraaf, a platform modernising commodity trade across South and Central Asia. The startup provides real-time pricing, shipment tracking, digital contracts and live communication between buyers and sellers dealing in materials like cotton and onyx. Saraaf raised $5.3 million in funding in 2024 and is preparing for a public listing, making it one of the most promising Pakistani startups on the global radar right now.
Rounding out the Fahad Shahbaz Youth General Assembly Forbes recognition is a Pakistani lawyer and youth advocate who founded the Youth General Assembly in 2015 at just 18 years old. The platform has grown into a national forum modelled on Pakistan’s National Assembly, running a 96-member annual assembly where young Pakistanis debate public policy and prepare recommendations for government. Shahbaz is a Diana Award recipient, a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, and is believed to be the first Pakistani to have received both the Diana Award and a Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia recognition. Reacting to the honour, he said the achievement belongs to everyone who supported his journey and that Pakistan’s youth are actively shaping the nation’s future.
For more trending Pakistani news and stories making Pakistan proud globally, visit pakified.com. Read our latest coverage on Entertainment and Showbiz. Follow us on Instagram and X (Twitter) for the latest updates.
