By Faheem Chandio KARACHI, Aug 19 (APP):Entrepreneurship could contribute to employment generation, sustain local commerce and strengthen confidence in a country’s economic future, young Pakistani entrepreneur Waqas Alam said on Wednesday. Talking to APP, Alam, reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey, said managing businesses and commercial responsibilities in Pakistan and Belgium had given him practical insight into the challenges and opportunities associated with entrepreneurship. Born in Swat and raised partly in …
Waqas Alam sees entrepreneurship as pathway to economic opportunity, resilience
By Faheem Chandio
KARACHI, Aug 19 (APP):Entrepreneurship could contribute to employment generation, sustain local commerce and strengthen confidence in a country’s economic future, young Pakistani entrepreneur Waqas Alam said on Wednesday.
Talking to APP, Alam, reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey, said managing businesses and commercial responsibilities in Pakistan and Belgium had given him practical insight into the challenges and opportunities associated with entrepreneurship.
Born in Swat and raised partly in Belgium after moving there with his family at an early age, Alam has remained closely connected with Pakistan while being involved in his family’s businesses in both countries.
“Our family has businesses in Swat, including Swat Coach buses and showrooms, and I remain connected with their management,” he said.
Alam said his experience in the family business had provided firsthand exposure to management responsibilities and taught him the importance of consistency and maintaining long-term commercial relationships.
He noted that entrepreneurship in Pakistan took different forms, ranging from traditional family enterprises to individuals managing businesses and commercial interests across borders.
According to Alam, his experience in Belgium, coupled with his continued association with businesses in Pakistan, had enabled him to understand different commercial environments while maintaining close ties with his hometown and the Pakistani market.
He is also involved in professional crypto currency trading as a personal business activity, which he said, was separate from his other business responsibilities and was not presented as a training or educational service.
Discussing the evolving nature of entrepreneurship, Alam said digital platforms had also emerged as important means of communication and engagement. He maintains an active presence on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, where he shares content related to his experiences, interests and everyday observations.
He said his digital presence provided an opportunity to engage with audiences and present aspects of his life beyond his business activities.
Alam believed the future of entrepreneurship in Pakistan would increasingly reflect an intersection of family enterprise, international exposure, local identity and digital participation.
He said many Pakistani entrepreneurs were already managing businesses and professional responsibilities across countries and industries, reflecting the increasingly interconnected nature of modern commerce.
For young people considering entrepreneurship, he stressed the importance of practical experience, consistency and responsibility.
“Entrepreneurship requires patience and commitment. Success does not always come immediately, but sustained and responsible effort can create opportunities for individuals, families and communities,” he said.
Alam’s journey from Swat to Belgium and his continued involvement in the family business environment in Pakistan illustrated how young Pakistanis were combining traditional enterprise with international exposure and contemporary digital platforms.
His experience also highlighted the role of small and family-run businesses in sustaining local markets, maintaining commercial relationships and creating economic opportunities within communities.
