Jehan Ara
Jehan Ara is one of Pakistan's most iconic technology entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders, with a career that has helped define the country's digital industry over three decades. She founded her first multimedia company in 1994, at a time when Pakistan's tech sector was still in its infancy, and later served as President of P@SHA, the Pakistan Software Houses Association, for more than twenty years. In that role, Jehan Ara shaped the direction of the national IT industry at the highest level, advocating for the policies, talent, and infrastructure needed for it to grow. Her contribution to nurturing new founders is equally significant. She established The Nest I/O, Pakistan's first Google and Samsung backed technology incubator, which became a launchpad for a generation of early-stage startups. In 2021, Jehan Ara founded Katalyst Labs, a startup accelerator and women leadership fellowship program focused on high-impact sectors including fintech, foodtech, agritech, edtech, and health tech. The emphasis on women's leadership reflects a long-standing commitment to widening access in a field where female participation has historically been low. Her influence extends deep into national and international policy. Jehan Ara has served on the Prime Minister's Task Force on IT and Telecom, the Punjab IT Board, and the World Bank Gender Advisory Council, placing her among the most influential voices in Pakistan's digital policy landscape. She is also a member of the TikTok APAC Safety Advisory Council and an expert panelist for the World Summit Awards, roles that carry her expertise onto global platforms shaping technology governance and digital safety. Anyone looking to learn more about Jehan Ara will encounter a career formally recognised at the national level. In March 2023, she was awarded the prestigious Tamgha-e-Imtiaz by the President of Pakistan in acknowledgement of twenty-five years of dedicated service to the country's technology sector. Through Katalyst Labs, Jehan Ara has since run more than thirteen incubation programs, continuing to connect Pakistani startups with investors and global opportunities, and reinforcing her standing as one of the ecosystem's most enduring champions.