Nisar Khuhro addresses the concluding ceremony of SMIU’s Sustainovation Expo 2026
Sidra Arif
Karachi:
The Concluding Ceremony of the Sustainable Innovation Expo 2.0 was held at Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU), Karachi, marking the successful completion of a major provincial platform dedicated to student-led innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. The event brought together academia, incubation centers, community platforms, policymakers, faculty members, and students from across Sindh, reflecting the growing strength and maturity of the innovation ecosystem in the province.
The ceremony was graced by Mr. Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Senator and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Sindh, as the Chief Guest, whose presence added distinction to the occasion and served as a strong source of encouragement for the young innovators. During the concluding session, guests and participants were briefed on the overall journey of the Expo, including insights into the showcased projects, their development status, and the future potential of student startups pitched by participants from various universities and institutions.
In his address, Senator Nisar Ahmed Khuhro emphasized that sustained innovation is a fusion of economic viability, environmental responsibility, and social impact. He appreciated the overall quality of the projects and highlighted the need for inter-university collaboration, optimal use of existing resources, and alignment of innovation with national and provincial development priorities. He also acknowledged the historical role of Sindh Madressatul Islam University in education and praised its growing recognition as a center for entrepreneurship and business incubation.
In his remarks, Dr. Mujeeb Sahrai, Vice Chancellor of Sindh Madressatul Islam University, highlighted the university’s long-term vision of promoting sustainable innovation as a fusion of economic viability, environmental responsibility, and social impact. He noted that when he joined the university, SMIU had only a single incubation initiative, but through sustained effort and institutional commitment, it has now emerged as one of the leading platforms for entrepreneurship and business incubation in the province. He emphasized that the university’s IT Tower, particularly its incubation and innovation spaces, was deliberately envisioned to serve not only SMIU but also the wider academic and entrepreneurial community of Sindh.
The vice chancellor further expressed satisfaction over the marked improvement in both the quantity and quality of projects compared to the previous year. He appreciated the growing culture of inter-university collaboration, noting that innovation should not be duplicated in isolation but strengthened through shared resources, joint research, and collective problem-solving. He stressed that sustainable innovation demands a balanced approach, integrating economic feasibility, environmental sensitivity, and social responsibility, and commended the students for demonstrating this understanding in their projects.
Mr. Shahid Ubaid, Manager of the Business Incubation Centre SMIU, appraised that this year, the response to the Expo was described as immaculate and unprecedented. A total of 103 project applications were received from universities and institutions across Sindh. Following an initial shortlisting of 55 projects, a rigorous and competitive screening process was conducted, resulting in around 45 projects being selected for final presentation on the Expo floor. Overall, more than 50 innovative projects were exhibited, each reflecting passion, confidence, and real potential to address economic, environmental, and social challenges.
At the concluding ceremony, the top three projects were formally announced and awarded seed funding in recognition of excellence. The first prize of PKR 50,000 was awarded to a project from Suhail University, the second prize of PKR 30,000 went to Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology, while the third prize of PKR 20,000 was secured by a team from the University of Mirpur Khas.
