HEC Chairman on Useless Degrees, Broken Curriculum & No Future for Pakistani Students | Ep 446

Find out more about Endeavor: https://pakistan.endeavor.orgIn this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Adnan Shaffi, Co-Founder of PriceOye — Pakistan’s leading online tech marketplace that's processing over 5% of the country's total mobile phone purchases.This episode answers:What makes Pakistan a high-risk, high-reward market for startupsHow to attract global VC interest in a volatile economyThe early hustle, exit, and reinvention of Adnan's personal journeyWe also discuss venture funding, consumer behavior, the stigma of buying online in Pakistan, and the massive opportunity still left to unlock.Socials:TBT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/TBT’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamilTBT’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthingsTBT Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclipsMuzamil's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/Muzamil's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/Guest's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adnanshaffiEndeavor's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/endeavor-pakistanCredits:Executive Producer: Syed Muzamil Hasan ZaidiAssociate Producer: Saad ShehryarPublisher: Talha ShaikhEditor: Jawad Sajid

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Dr. Saira Siddique, Founder & +CEO of medIQ Smart Healthcare, a digital health platform revolutionizing healthcare access in Pakistan. Before founding medIQ, Dr. Saira led several major health initiatives with the Government of Pakistan until a tragic road accident left her paralyzed from the neck down. But that wasn’t the end, it was the start of a bigger mission.This episode answers: How a life-threatening accident changed her mission Why she left government to build something bigger What medIQ actually does, and how it’s scaling globallyWe also explore the tension between staying small vs fundraising, the reality of equity dilution, and what it takes to build Pakistan’s first digital health startup Socials:TBT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/TBT’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamilTBT’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthingsTBT Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@tbtpodcastclipsMuzamil's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/Muzamil's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/Guest's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-saira-siddique-62130b1ab/Endeavor: https://pakistan.endeavor.org/DaftarKhwan: https://www.daftarkhwan.com/

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Miral Sharif, the Country Head of Yango Pakistan, who previously held leadership roles at Swvl, Daraz, and Zong. Miral shares her personal journey, the challenges of working in male-dominated industries, and the future of ride-sharing in Pakistan.This episode answers:What is Yango doing differently in Pakistan?Can we actually build a one-app-for-everything solution here?How does ride-sharing help everyday Pakistanis?Will we see delivery, logistics, and rides merge into one ecosystem?Make sure to watch till the end for a deep dive into the startup ecosystem and tech adoption in Pakistan.Socials:TBT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/TBT’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamilTBT’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthingsMuzamil's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/Muzamil's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/Miral's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miral-sharif-3b5976a2/

Joining us today is Jahanzeb Burana, Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of National Institute of Technology (NIT), Pakistan’s first American-affiliated university launching in 2025. With an MBA from Harvard and a decade of experience in public policy, investments, and education reform, Jahanzeb shares the vision behind building a globally competitive, student-centric university in Pakistan.In this episode, we dive deep into how traditional universities are failing students, why NIT is offering an entirely new model, and how they’ve partnered with Arizona State University to deliver a modern, globally aligned curriculum. We explore course quality, the 3+1 international transfer program, and how Pakistan can solve its talent redundancy crisis amidst global AI disruption.This episode answers:Why is Pakistan’s current university system outdated?How will NIT ensure job-ready graduates?What is the future of global education?Can we fix the skill gap in the Pakistani workforce?Watch till the end to hear about NIT’s collaboration with Arizona State University, student career pathways, and the future of education in Pakistan.Don’t forget to subscribe and press the bell icon to catch more future-facing conversations.Socials:TBT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/TBT’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamilTBT’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthingsMuzamil's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/Muzamil's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/Jahanzeb's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jahanzebburana/

Joining us today is Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, the current Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, with decades of experience leading Pakistan’s education reform. Dr. Mukhtar offers an unfiltered view on the gaps in our current system and what needs to change.In this episode, we dive deep into why Pakistan’s degrees are becoming irrelevant, how outdated policies are killing innovation, and what steps HEC is taking to fix this broken system. We also explore future plans for AI, local internet infra, EdTech, and what a truly skilled youth could look like by 2050.This episode answers:Why are our degrees not helping us build careers?How does HEC plan to bridge the talent gap?What’s the future of higher education in Pakistan?Is EdTech the answer?Stay till the end to understand how Pakistan’s education system can evolve and what's holding it back.Don’t forget to subscribe and press the bell icon to catch more unfiltered conversations like this!#thoughtbehindthings #muzamilhasan #hecpakistan #pakistanieducation #degrees Socials:TBT’s Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/TBT’s Official TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamilTBT’s Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthingsMuzamil's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/Muzamil's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/Dr. Mukhtar's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-mukhtar-ahmed-046408247/

Joining us today is Jonathan Mark Tatti, the Co founder & CEO of Begin Watch, a new Pakistani OTT platform competing with global giants like Netflix and HBO. With over 20 years in the media industry, Jonathan played key roles at Zee TV, CNBC Pakistan, and SAMAA TV, launching some of the region’s most iconic content and channels.In this episode, we dive into the real story behind Pakistan’s streaming challenges, how Begin Watch was started, the legal and content roadblocks, and how the team plans to build a platform that can rival global players. We also explore sports distribution, E-sports, content licensing, and what it really takes to build a media business in Pakistan today.This episode answers:Why build a streaming platform in Pakistan?How does Begin compete with Netflix, HBO & others?What’s the biggest challenge in acquiring content rights?Can subscription-based platforms survive here?What does Pakistan’s future look like?Stay till the end to hear about Shark Tank Pakistan, Pakistan Idol, and Jonathan’s vision for Pakistan in 2050.Socials:TBT’s Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/TBT’s Official TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamilTBT’s Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthingsMuzamil's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/Muzamil's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/Jonathan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-mark-t/

Joining us today is Ivana Bajamic, Chief People & Corporate Reputation Officer at National Foods Limited (NFL). She has a global background across adidas, Chalhoub, and BRF, and brings over a decade of experience in talent strategy, organizational culture, and people transformation.In this episode, we explore Pakistan’s talent pool, what’s working, where the gaps are, and how global standards can be adapted locally. Ivana shares her honest perspective on hiring in Pakistan, building accountability systems, the impact of AI on legacy companies, and why diversity and culture are no longer soft topics. This episode answers:What are the real strengths in Pakistan’s talent pool?Why do companies struggle with accountability?How can legacy companies adapt to AI?What’s needed to prepare agencies for global work?Where does Ivana see Pakistan in 2050?Watch till the end for book recommendations from Ivana.Socials:TBT’s Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/TBT’s Official TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamilTBT’s Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthingsMuzamil's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/Muzamil's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/Ivana’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivana-bajamic-2781579/

Joining us today is Marriyum Aurangzeb, Senior Minister in the Government of Punjab and a leader in PMLN, also an associate of Maryam Nawaz. She has a background in economics and environment from King’s College London, and has held major portfolios including Information, Planning & Development, Climate Change, and Education.In this episode, we unpack the Punjab Budget 2025, what it really means for the average Pakistani, and how the government plans to fix key issues like female education, public transport, water distribution, digitization, and more. This episode answers: What are the focus areas in Budget 2025? How is PMLN approaching reform this time? Is Maryam Nawaz focused on education? What is being done for water and smog? Can digital governance actually work in Pakistan?Watch till the end for a glimpse into what Pakistan might look like by 2050.Socials:TBT’s Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/TBT’s Official TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamilTBT’s Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthingsMuzamil's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/Muzamil's LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/Marriyum's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marriyum/Marriyum's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marriyum_aurangzeb/

Joining us today is Abdul Rehman Najam, a value investor and the Founder & CEO of ARN Financial Advisors, where he helps individuals and businesses navigate financial markets. He has a background in Economics from the University of Warwick and deep expertise in wealth management.In this episode, we dive into why most Pakistanis don’t invest smartly, the myths around getting rich, and what real financial literacy looks like. We also explore the mindset of long-term investing, how to ignore noise in the market, and why emotions are the biggest enemy of smart financial decisions.This episode answers:Why do most people never build wealth despite earning well?How can young Pakistanis start investing the right way?What are the most common investing mistakes?Why is long-term thinking rare in Pakistan?How can financial advisors actually add value?Watch till the end to understand more about Stock Market.Socials:TBT’s Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/TBT’s Official TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamilTBT’s Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthingsMuzamil's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/Muzamil's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/Abdul Rehman’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AbdulRehman0292/Abdul Rehman’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/abdulrehmannajam

Joining us today is Qumber Hussain, the Founder and CEO of Virtue Xolutions, a growing tech company he has built over the past 10 years. Under his leadership, Virtue Xolutions has expanded from a startup idea into a trusted business working with clients across industries.In this episode, we explore why many Pakistanis think small, how language barriers hold people back, and what it really takes to build global businesses. We also talk about the power of networking, how to structure a business for global clients, and why AI will reshape marketing and communication in the years ahead.This episode answers:• Why do so many Pakistanis struggle to dream big?• How does poor English block opportunities?• What stops Pakistanis from building global businesses?• What do international clients expect that most don’t deliver?• How is AI already changing the marketing game?Watch till the end to understand more about Pakistan’s Future.Socials:TBT’s Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthingsMuzamil's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasanMuzamil's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasanQumber's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/qumber-hussain-991b457b/