Forbes has included four Pakistanis on its 30 Under 30 list for 2022. Author Dur e Aziz Amna, designer Zain Ahmad, digital entrepreneur Muhammad Saad, and social entrepreneur Shawana Shah are among the nation-proud honorees.
The Forbes website states, “All of the honorees in the Forbes Under 30 Class of 2022 have defied the odds: traversing a worldwide epidemic, supply chain bottlenecks, and isolation to establish companies that are resilient and destined to transform the world.”
According to the official Forbes article, nearly half of this year’s awardees are individuals of color, with over 24 percent being immigrants. According to the report, this year features the biggest proportion of immigrants from 58 countries, including Albania, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and Syria.
Young artists, entrepreneurs, technologists, and social workers under the age of 30 who are making an impact in their respective industries are highlighted on this annual list.Zain Ahmad
In 2018, the designer co-founded the Pakistani streetwear label Rasta. His designs have been worn by celebrities such as Bollywood director Karan Johar, Oscar-winning actor Riz Ahmed, and rapper French Montana. According to Forbes, the business “promotes sustainable and artisanal designs, with items conceived, sourced, and manufactured in Pakistan by local artisans in limited quantities.”
Shawana Shah
She co-founded Da Hawwa Lur, a platform that strives to provide social and economic assistance to victims of sexual and gender-based abuse, including women, young girls, and transgender individuals. She was the first Asian to receive the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award, which she received in 2016.
According to Forbes, Da Hawwa Lur “advocates for legislative reform, teaches communities on women and transgender rights, hosts literacy courses provides tele-counseling services, and has distributed relief packages in Pakistan, including female hygiene supplies.”
Muhammad Salman
He co-founded BridgeLinx, a tech firm that connects truckers and private fleets in Pakistan with manufacturers and exporters in Pakistan. BridgeLinx additionally ensures document validation, freight safety, and timely pickups. According to Forbes, the Lahore-based business raised $10 million in the highest seed round in Pakistan, led by Harry Stebbings’ 20 Venture Capital, Buckley Ventures, and Indus Valley Capital.
Dur e Aziz Amna
She is a writer whose works are influenced by her experiences as a Pakistani residing in the United States. Her debut novel, American Fever, will be published in August. The novel chronicles the coming of age of a Pakistani Muslim girl growing up in a rural Oregon community. Graduate of Yale College and the Helen Zell Writers’ Program at the University of Michigan, her work has appeared in Al Jazeera, the New York Times, and the Financial Times.
Previously, three Pakistanis were on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for the North American region in 2021 – for the year 2021. Mariam Nusrat’s inclusion on Forbes’ Next 1000 List last year was another source of national pride. It recognizes enterprises with less than $10 million in annual revenue and boundless potential.