Living Indus Project: Empowering Green Innovation for a Sustainable Pakistan

LCE, in collaboration with UNICEF, FAO, and the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, played a pivotal role in the Living Indus Initiative, fostering Pakistani start-ups that tackled pressing environmental challenges. This initiative was a pioneering effort to promote climate resilience through entrepreneurship, offering funding, mentorship, and global networking opportunities for young entrepreneurs in Pakistan who were dedicated to sustainability and green innovation.

Building Capacity for Sustainable Impact

Through Tabeer, LUMS implemented a structured capacity-building programme designed to strengthen BICs by integrating primary research, community engagement, international best practices, and experiential learnings from its own start-up incubation center. The initiative included on-site workshops for university faculty, BIC management, and students, along with in-depth in-house training on key aspects such as incubator governance, entrepreneurial coaching, and institutional reforms. A dedicated segment of the project focused on the development of prototyping spaces and makers’ labs, equipping incubation centers with the tools and knowledge to support hardware innovation for young entrepreneurs in Pakistan.

International Exposure & Long-Term Sustainability

As part of the initiative, 15 BIC representatives also got the chance to travel to the United States to engage with the global entrepreneurial ecosystem, gaining firsthand insights into successful incubation models. The long-term sustainability of the project was anchored in structural reforms, cultural shifts toward innovation, and strengthened networks within universities and partner organisations. To ensure continued support and knowledge-sharing, LCE has established an online dashboard featuring troubleshooting resources, best practices, and a platform for ongoing collaboration among BICs.

Driving Innovation & Entrepreneurship

The Tabeer Project stands as a testament to LUMS’ commitment to fostering innovation and empowering young entrepreneurs in Pakistan. By strengthening university incubation centers, Tabeer has paved the way for more entrepreneurial higher education institutions, ultimately contributing to the success of Pakistani start-ups and the broader economic growth of the country.