Impact network launched to address developmental challenges in Pakistan

A unique collaboration between Incubation Centers, Social Entrepreneurship Support Organizations, Universities, Public Sector, Donors, and Investors, called the Impact Network was launched in Islamabad. The Impact Network will focus on stimulating, supporting and scaling critical social innovations.

This national program is funded by the Promotion of Education in Pakistan PEP Foundation (a non-profit working in Pakistan since 1994 to promote the right of all students to access quality higher education). Over 150 senior officials from both the public and private sectors attended the launch event

The event was designed to allow the exchange of ideas and insights among thought leaders and policymakers. Founder and Chairman PEP Foundation Dr. Khalid Iqbal inaugurated the launch event.

Ms. Shahida Saleem, Team Lead for the Impact Network elaborated upon the vision of setting up the Impact Network. She stressed on the need for collaboration between key stakeholders to address Pakistan’s most pressing developmental challenges. “Pakistan’s problems cannot be solved by any one organization. In order to create meaningful progress and tangible social impact, we need to foster leadership, innovative thinking and most importantly, collective action.”

The participants discussed how social innovations can be supported so that they can actually affect millions of people across Pakistan. The discussions were structured around 5 targeted sectors; education, health, agriculture, water, and energy. In addition, there were two high-level closed discussion groups around Blended finance and Implication of Future technologies on SDG’s.

David Galipeau, founder and Chief of the United Nations Social Impact Fund (UNDP-UNSIF) led the Blended Finance session, with participants from Ignite, BOI, Insitor, and many others.

Puruesh Chaudhry, founder, and CEO of Aaghai, Forsight Labs, and The Islamabad Singularity Chapter, Led the discussion on the implications of future technologies on SDG’s.

Puruesh Chaudhry said that the spirit of organizational collaboration must be sustained to enable truly sustainable and impactful solutions to the challenges faced by Pakistan.