LMKT Wins Contract for National Incubation Center Karachi

Islamabad, Pakistan – February 1, 2018 – LMKT (www.lmkt.com), a leading Pakistan-based technology services company, is pleased to announce the award of the contract to setup a pioneering National Incubation Center (NIC) in Karachi. His Excellency Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, was the Chief Guest of the contract signing ceremony, which was held at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat and was also attended by the Guest of Honor Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Ms. Anusha Rahman. Shabana Khan, President LMKT, and Yusuf Hussain, CEO Ignite (formerly National ICT R&D Fund), signed the contract in the presence of renowned dignitaries from the public and private sectors.

The contract signing was part of the launch of the Government’s DigiSkills Program, under which one million of the country’s youth will receive digital skills development training.

LMKT, along with its partners, including NED University, was selected for this landmark project by Ignite through a transparent bidding process in which LMKT competed with five other bidders, comprising leading multinationals and technology companies. Ministry of IT & Telecom’s program to create incubation centers across Pakistan is aimed at promoting youth-led entrepreneurship in the country.

LMKT will setup the center in Karachi to empower aspiring Sindh-based entrepreneurs. After the successful launch of NIC Peshawar, NIC Karachi will be LMKT’s second venture into the national incubation space. Being at the heart of the country’s business hub, the Karachi center is expected to be Pakistan’s premier incubation facility. The Karachi incubation center is projected to start operations in the second quarter of 2018.

Along with other facilities, incubatees at NIC Karachi will have access to a design studio, NED University’s Makers’ Lab and a fintech center, a result of HBL’s collaboration on the project.

“Being the great equalizer, technology counters the injustices that stem from the stratification of our society,” said Shabana Khan, President LMKT. She added that “establishing avenues of development and wealth creation, like NIC Karachi, lifts the bottom 100 million of our nation and brightens the future of the whole of our youth. “

On the occasion, Shahjahan Chaudhry, Director NIC Karachi, said, “We are committed to developing Pakistan’s startup sector. Our youth has the ability to produce transformational solutions when provided with resources and an environment that is conducive to creative thought.” He continued, “Karachi has always attracted the nation’s best and the brightest and we are really looking forward to working with these rising stars and developing their revolutionary ideas.”

“Innovation is the need of the hour, and by empowering our youth with the necessary digital skills and entrepreneurial acumen we can enable them to tackle society’s most challenging problems,” said Yusuf Hussain, CEO Ignite.

“We are delighted to be partnering with LMKT and we are confident that National Incubation Center Karachi will play a pivotal role in developing Sindh’s entrepreneurial tech culture,” Dr. Sarosh Lodi, Vice Chancellor NED University a key partner in the consortium. The LMKT-led consortium also includes also includes PTCL, HBL and IBM as strategic partners.