News Desk
Lahore, December, 2025:
The Upper Room Pakistan organized the Upper Room Conclave 2025, a landmark dialogue aimed at promoting inclusivity, collaboration, and economic empowerment for marginalized communities, particularly the Christian community in Pakistan.
Held at the National Incubation Centre, Lahore, the event brought together Christian entrepreneurs, clergy, academics, NGOs, and members of the corporate sector for an in-depth discussion on equal opportunities and social integration through entrepreneurship.
Founded in 2024, The Upper Room Pakistan has emerged as the country’s first faith-based business incubator, providing mentorship, training, and resources to aspiring entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups. The initiative completed its first cohort in May 2025, launching six startups across various sectors, and is preparing to begin its second cohort in October.
The dialogue featured prominent speakers, including Ali Shehzad, Director General, Social Protection Authority, Government of Punjab; Gul-e-Maryam Watoo, Board Member, Single National Curriculum; Abdul Wahab, Chair, Industry Engagement, PASHA; Ali Ahmed, CEO, Euphoria XR; Iftikhar Hussain, Founder, TF Labs and Startup Grind Pakistan; Khuram Shehzad, COO, JKT; Muhammad Jahanzaib, Director Strategy, Punjab Group; Ata ur Rehman, Deputy Director, CCJP; Bishop Nadeem Kamran, Diocese of Lahore; and Pastor Morris and Aleem Emmanuel, among others.
Speakers discussed the barriers faced by minority entrepreneurs in accessing capital, mentorship, and business networks. They underscored the need for public and private sectors to work collaboratively in addressing these gaps.
Ali Shehzad, while highlighting the constitutional guarantees of equality, said, “We must ensure these rights are not just words on paper but lived realities.”
Gul-e-Maryam Watoo recalled Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s August 11 address, emphasizing that “embracing diversity and respecting all citizens, regardless of religion, is essential for Pakistan’s social and economic progress.”
Ata ur Rehman from the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) appreciated the initiative, noting that “such dialogues must be held more frequently and include voices from both majority and minority communities.”
Pastor Morris stressed that empowerment within the Christian community can only be achieved through harmony and mutual respect, while Aleem Emmanuel called for sustained platforms to help marginalized communities unlock their potential.
Representatives from the entrepreneurial sector also pledged support. Ali Ahmed, CEO of Euphoria XR, said, “We have a moral responsibility to uplift those who have been left behind.” Iftikhar Hussain, Founder of TF Labs, added that “inclusivity and collaboration are the keys to a stronger Pakistan.”
In her concluding remarks, Mahrukh Saman Lal, Founder of The Upper Room Pakistan, described the conclave as “a meaningful step toward fostering inclusion and collaboration.” She said, “The way mainstream incubators and businesses have embraced The Upper Room has amplified our reach and impact. Together, we can build a more economically successful and inclusive Pakistan.”
The event closed with a shared commitment to expanding partnerships and developing sustainable pathways for economic participation among marginalized communities.