NIC Quetta

National Incubation Centre Quetta

National Incubation Centre Quetta (NICQ): Expanding Opportunities for Pakistani Startups

LUMS has played a pivotal role in fostering entrepreneurship across Pakistan, extending its expertise beyond Lahore and Punjab. Our work on the National Incubation Centre Quetta (NICQ), housed at BUITEMS, has reinforced our ability to provide administrative, managerial, and strategic oversight to incubation centers nationwide. The NICQ project demonstrates our capacity to support Pakistani start-ups and strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem beyond regional boundaries.

Through NIC Quetta, LUMS has provided incubation and virtual support to over 100 start-ups, extending entrepreneurial impact beyond Punjab.

Each year, NICQ offers a high-impact programme for 25 incubatees—with 10% benefiting through virtual tenancy—powered by LUMS’ proven model.

NICQ Investor Summits organized by LUMS in Lahore connected dozens of Quetta-based start-ups with investors, opening doors to funding and scale.

LUMS at NIC Quetta: Driving Entrepreneurial Growth

In February 2018, LUMS was awarded the NICQ project for a five-year term with the responsibility to set up, maintain, and manage the incubation center in accordance with the agreement. The project scope included implementing a high-impact incubation programme, providing a conducive environment for 25 incubatees per year, and supporting virtual tenancy for 10% of the cohort. LUMS ensured the provision of a professional management team, infrastructure, training, and mentorship to help young entrepreneurs in Pakistan turn their ideas into scalable businesses.

Supporting Innovation Beyond Regional Boundaries

LUMS worked closely with NIC Quetta to deliver The Foundry training, replicating the successful model established at NIC Lahore – LUMS. While the NICQ team led outreach in Quetta and neighboring regions, LUMS planned and facilitated the training sessions, ensuring that the start-ups received high-quality entrepreneurial education. To maximize effectiveness, faculty members frequently traveled to Quetta for in-person sessions, with LUMS handling logistics, while online sessions were scheduled and coordinated in advance.

Beyond training, LUMS played an essential role in evaluation and start-up progress tracking, collaborating with NICQ to conduct feedback sessions, deliverable grading, and final start-up assessments.

Bridging Start-ups with Investment Opportunities

To further strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem, LUMS has also organised a few NICQ Investor Summits in Lahore, inviting relevant stakeholders, finalising start-up pitch decks, and providing technical support for a seamless event. This initiative helped Pakistani start-ups secure connections with potential investors, fueling their growth and market expansion.

Expanding Impact, Enabling Entrepreneurs

The NICQ project is a testament to LUMS’ commitment to supporting young entrepreneurs in Pakistan and developing a thriving start-up culture beyond its home base. Through expert training, strategic mentorship, and access to investment opportunities, LUMS has successfully contributed to the long-term growth of Pakistani start-ups, reinforcing its leadership in shaping Pakistan’s entrepreneurial future.