Islamabad, June 8, 2026 : The Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN), in partnership with Tech Valley Pakistan and with the support of the U.S. Mission to Pakistan, officially launched the PUAN Masterclass 2026: E-Commerce and Digital Trade – Building Pakistan-U.S. Economic Partnerships in Islamabad.
Bringing together 50 U.S. exchange alumni from across Pakistan, the five-day intensive Masterclass commenced with Day 1’s theme, “The Regulatory Gateway,” laying the foundation for participants to explore digital trade, e-commerce, and export-oriented entrepreneurship.
The opening ceremony featured remarks by David Moyer, Minister Counselor for Public Affairs, U.S. Embassy Islamabad, who highlighted the importance of strengthening Pakistan-U.S. economic partnerships through technology, entrepreneurship, and skills development. Emphasizing the American component of the Masterclass, Mr. Moyer noted that the program showcases American technological leadership through its partnership with Google, one of the world’s leading technology companies. Participants will complete the Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate, a globally recognized credential designed to equip them with practical skills to compete in international markets and connect Pakistani businesses with global opportunities. Addressing the participants, Mr. Moyer congratulated them on their selection from nearly 400 applicants nationwide, noting that they represent PUAN’s 14 chapters across Pakistan and bring diverse experiences, expertise, and perspectives to the program. He encouraged participants to take full advantage of the week ahead by learning from industry experts, building digital storefronts, developing export roadmaps, and forging partnerships that can create opportunities for both Pakistanis and Americans.
In his welcome remarks, Umar Farooq, CEO of Tech Valley Pakistan, shared his personal entrepreneurial journey and reflected on how he founded the company with a vision of projecting a positive image of Pakistan to the wider world through technology, innovation, and global engagement. He encouraged participants to view entrepreneurship not only as a business opportunity but also as a means of representing Pakistan on the international stage.
The day’s learning sessions began with an interactive Health Check and Business Readiness Assessment led by Fahad Malik, entrepreneur and founder of Lumu.pk, Scale Digitals, and 360 Communications. Through a hands-on diagnostic exercise, participants assessed the current state of their businesses, including tax compliance, SEO readiness, digital marketing practices, social media presence, business maturity, and growth objectives.
Masterclass participants represented a diverse range of sectors, including clothing and apparel, jewelry, handicrafts, organic products, recycling initiatives, aesthetic and wellness products, gifts, family-owned agricultural enterprises and so on seeking to scale through digital channels. Discussions also explored participants’ interests in artificial intelligence, e-commerce, digital trade, search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), and B2B business development.
Building on this foundation, Fahad Malik conducted a practical session on Finding Your First Product, focusing on how entrepreneurs can identify products with strong online demand and export potential. Participants learned how to conduct market research, analyze digital advertising trends, evaluate customer demand, and determine what makes a product “sale-ready.” Through live demonstrations, participants were introduced to free digital tools that can be used to identify winning products and validate business ideas before entering the market.
The session also introduced participants to the fundamentals of building a product-based business, including branding essentials and the importance of establishing a strong digital presence. As part of their first assignment, participants were tasked with creating their brand identity, designing a logo, setting up an Instagram business profile, creating story highlights, and developing introductory social media content for their businesses.
The afternoon featured an expert session by Rafia Syed, Director General, Services Division, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), titled “Pakistan’s Digital Export Opportunity: Where Do We Fit in Global Digital Trade?”
During her presentation, Ms. Syed highlighted the tremendous growth potential of Pakistan’s digital economy and underscored the increasing importance of services exports in driving economic growth. She noted that Pakistan’s IT, BPO, and game development exports reached approximately USD 3.9 billion in FY 2024, making the services sector one of the country’s fastest-growing export segments.
Encouraging participants to seize emerging opportunities in the digital economy, she emphasized that global demand for digital services continues to expand rapidly and that Pakistani entrepreneurs are well-positioned to compete in international markets. Her message to participants was clear: “The opportunity is real. It is now. It is yours.”
The day concluded with participant reflections and an assessment exercise designed to reinforce key concepts learned throughout the sessions. Participants left with a clearer understanding of their business readiness, market opportunities, and the practical steps required to begin building internationally competitive digital ventures.
As the Masterclass continues, participants will move from strategy and compliance to hands-on digital storefront development, exploring e-commerce platforms, digital payments, artificial intelligence tools, logistics, and export growth strategies.
Stay connected with PUAN’s website and social media channels for daily updates, participant stories, and highlights from the PUAN Masterclass 2026.
