The Western Union Entrepreneurship Basecamp 2025 concluded in Karachi on Saturday with an impressive turnout of more than 200 participants, including students, freelancers, and early-stage founders. Organized by Markup Valley and powered by the Watson Institute, with partial venue support from Viper, the event delivered a full day of learning focused on helping Pakistani entrepreneurs build globally scalable businesses. Attendees received guidance on U.S. business expansion, global tax and compliance, cross-border financial systems, and practical strategies for accessing international markets.
The event was attended by Madam Shahpara Rizvi, Deputy Managing Director of the Sindh Education Foundation (SEF), who served as Chief Guest. She praised the initiative for creating global opportunities for Pakistan’s youth and encouraged participants to think beyond borders and leverage emerging digital economies.
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A strong lineup of industry leaders addressed the audience, including Shoaib Bhatti (CEO, SAB Tech); Khushnood Aftab Shaikh (CEO, Viper Technology); Hans Masroor (President and Co-Founder, EYL); Saad Ahmed Tamimi (CEO, Advisor Advertising); Tahseen Islam (Co-Founder and CEO, DigitEMB); Sarah Peracha (CEO, Peracha Ventures); Saad Zuberi (Founder, Lucky One Mall); Ali Nisar (CEO, Markup Valley); Khadija Rashad (Senior Business Development Manager, Payoneer); Sundas Saifullah (Founder, Brandwala and Zonash Waraich Bridal Couture); Ahsan Lakhani (Director and Anchorperson, Voice of Sindh); and Azfer Hussain of NIC Karachi.
During his session, Ahsan Lakhani delivered a motivational talk that received strong appreciation from the audience. Speaking on what he described as the “emotional scam,” he explained how people often discourage others from following their dreams, creating emotional barriers that hold them back. He emphasized that such emotional manipulation can limit ambition and urged the youth to take risks, trust their abilities, and pursue their goals with confidence. His message of resilience and self-belief resonated deeply with the participants.
The event was supported by Western Union, Watson Institute (USA), Markup Valley, Skillup Valley, Viper, Adwiser Advertising, Voice of Sindh, LOUG, Emerging Young Leaders, Pakistan Ecommerce Association, and the Pakistan Executive Forum. Organizers reported that participants left with a better understanding of U.S. business formation, compliance requirements, and strategies for building cross-border ventures.
Speaking at the event, Ali Nisar, Western Union Global Fellow and founder of Markup Valley, highlighted the importance of equipping Pakistan’s youth with global business knowledge. He stated that with proper guidance and support, young entrepreneurs in Pakistan can compete internationally and build impactful ventures. The Basecamp concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and opening new pathways to global markets.
