In recent years, young Pakistanis have proven that age is not a barrier if you want to achieve remarkable success. There are many names and faces that made their homeland recognized and proud of their achievements. Their success is not confined to Pakistan only; they have made their mark on the whole world. These young achievers have shown that with hard work, dedication, and passion, there’s absolutely nothing you can’t achieve. Whether you become a computer prodigy at the mere age of 9 or receive a Nobel Prize in Peace-keeping. But who are these people, and when and what did they do to get fame and a name at this age? Lots of questions like these are on your mind right now. Therefore, our expert team of researchers at Tash’heer picked these names and gathered everything about them, which we will share with you. 

10 Young Change-makers Shaping Pakistan’s Future

Pakistan is full of amazing young minds doing great things. Let’s meet some of these prodigies who are promoting Pakistan’s best image to the world. Tash’heer took pride in telling their stories and putting effort into making them land on this list. So, get ready to be inspired by their stories!

No.	Name	Achievement
1	Sayed Sumail Hassan	World Champion in Dota 2, becoming the youngest player to win The International 2015.
2	Haroon Tariq	Youngest to become an Apple App Developer with his app ‘Super Soccer Kicks’ at just 10 years old.
3	Saad Ali	Co-founder of a tech startup that provides innovative solutions in software development.
4	Arfa Kareem	Youngest Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) at age 9, known for her contributions in IT at an early age.
5	Malala Yousafzai	Nobel Peace Prize winner for her advocacy of girls’ education and empowerment worldwide.
6	Laraib Atta	Acclaimed visual effects artist who worked on major Hollywood films like “Godzilla” and “X-Men: Days of Future Past.”
7	Haris Khan	One of the youngest app developers globally, known for his app ‘Super Soccer Kicks.’
8	Iman Quraishi	Top-ranked female tennis player in Pakistan under-18, notable achievements in national and international tennis.
9	Babar Iqbal	Achieved several IT certifications at a young age, including the youngest MCP and MCTS.
10	Syed Maaz Imran	Represented Pakistan at the Telenor Youth Summit and proposed the eTuitionHub platform for global online education.

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Sumail

Syed Sumail Hassan who is simply known as Sumail, is a talented Dota 2 player. He has made a big impact in the esports world due to his skills. Born on February 13, 1999, in Karachi, Pakistan, Sumail started playing Dota when he was just eight years old. In 2012, he and his family moved to the United States, where he settled in Rosemont, Illinois. Sumail quickly rose to fame in the North American Dota scene, becoming the highest-rated player in the North American Elite League. Shortly after, he showed his incredible skills at the Dota 2 Asia Championships, gaining recognition as a prodigy.

 Later that year, Sumail and EG won The International 2015, a major tournament, earning them a grand prize of $6.6 million. At just 16, Sumail became the youngest player to surpass a million dollars in esports winnings. His success made him land on Time’s list of ’30 Most Influential Teens’ in 2016. After several years with EG, Sumail briefly joined Quincy Crew and then played for OG in 2020. He continued to show his talent with big teams like Team Liquid and Team Secret, making him stand out in the gaming world.

Date of Birth	September 5, 1999
Hometown	Karachi, Pakistan
Achievement	World Champion in Dota 2, youngest player to win The International 2015
Career Highlights	Joined Evil Geniuses Dota 2 team, earned over $2 million in prize money
Social Media Profile	facebook.com/syedsumail.hassan.96

Haroon Tariq

Muhammad Haroon Tariq, born in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, is an extraordinary student known for setting seven world records by earning 87 A grades. He is considered one of Pakistan’s brightest students, especially due to his achievements in GCE Advanced Level, GCE Ordinary Level, and IGCSE exams. Haroon Tariq achieved 30 A grades in GCE Advanced Level, 29 A grades in IGCSE, and 28 A grades in GCE Ordinary Level. He completed his GCE Advanced Level at Froebel’s International School in Islamabad.

His first world record is earning 30 A grades in GCE Advanced Level, while his second is 29 A grades in IGCSE. The third record is 28 A grades in GCE Ordinary Level. He also set a record with 57 A grades in GCE Ordinary Level and IGCSE combined. His fifth world record is for 76 A grades in Cambridge International Examinations.  The NYA, legally established under license number 690 of the ordinance 1984 by the Government of Pakistan, functions as a model parliament, youth think tank, and social welfare institution.

Full Name	Haroon Tariq
Date of Birth	August 1, 2003
Hometown	Karachi, Pakistan
Achievement	28 A grades in GCE Ordinary Level
Education	Self-taught in app development with family support
Social Media Profile	facebook.com/haroontariq.official

Saad Ali

Saad Ali is a talented motorsports driver from Pakistan who has made a visible mark in racing. His passion for motorsports started early, and in 2006, he took a big step by earning his professional race driver’s certification. After completing an intensive training program, Saad joined the school series at the Sakhir Formula 1 Circuit in Bahrain. Throughout his career, Saad has participated in many racing events, including the 2F2F Endurance Grand Prix and the SWS/2F2F Sprint & Endurance series in Islamabad, Pakistan. 

He has also raced at the YAS Marina Formula 1 Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and the Sepang Formula 1 Circuit in Malaysia.Considering Saad’s achievements, it include winning first place in the 2F2F Endurance Grand Prix in 2015 and the SWS/2F2F Endurance Championship in 2014. He has consistently performed well in different competitions, earning multiple podium finishes. 

Full Name	Saad Ali
Date of Birth	March 15, 1995
Hometown	Lahore, Pakistan
Achievement	Co-founder of a tech startup specializing in software development
Notable Projects	Developed innovative software solutions for local businesses
Social Media Profile	facebook.com/saad.ali.racing

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Arfa Kareem

Arfa Karim was a brilliant Pakistani student who gained worldwide recognition at a very young age. Born on February 2, 1995, in Faisalabad, Pakistan, she became the world’s youngest Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) in 2004 at just nine years old. Her success gained her a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Arfa held the MCP title until 2008, representing Pakistan at various international platforms like the TechEd Developers Conference. In recognition of her talent, she received Pakistan’s highest literary honor, the Presidential Pride of Performance, from General Pervez Musharraf in 2005.

At age ten, Arfa was invited by Bill Gates to visit Microsoft’s headquarters in the United States, which was a remarkable experience for her. She also received the Fatima Jinnah Gold Medal in Science and Technology and the Salaam Pakistan Youth Award in 2005. Arfa’s achievements inspired many in Pakistan, and she was celebrated as a national icon. Tragically, Arfa passed away on January 14, 2012, at the age of 16 due to cardiac arrest. In her honor, the Arfa Software Technology Park in Lahore was named after her, highlighting her impact on technology and youth in Pakistan.

Full Name	Arfa Karim Randhawa
Date of Birth	February 2, 1995
Hometown	Faisalabad, Pakistan
Achievement	Youngest Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) at age 9
Legacy	Inspired the creation of Arfa Software Technology Park in Lahore
Arfa Karim Technology Incubator	akti.com.pk

Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai, born on July 12, 1997,in Mingora, Pakistan, is a famous advocate for girls’ education. At the age of 17, she won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, becoming the youngest-ever laureate to achieve this milestone.  Her activism began at 11 when she wrote a blog for BBC Urdu under the pseudonym Gul Makai, detailing life under Taliban rule in Swat, where girls were banned from attending school. After being shot by the Taliban in 2012, she continued her fight for education and became an international symbol of bravery. The event of her shooting incident gained traction from all over the world, and even the American President of that time, Barack Obama, spoke about it and later met her in person.

Malala co-founded the Malala Fund to support young girls’ education around the world, and many celebrities and personalities, including Angelina Jolie, made major donations to her fund. Her book, “I Am Malala,” tells her story. In 2017, she received honorary Canadian citizenship and in 2023, became the youngest Honorary Fellow at Oxford University. She also received Pakistan’s first National Youth Peace Prize in 2011. Also, she has been named one of Time magazine’s most influential people. 

Full Name	Malala Yousafzai
Date of Birth	July 12, 1997
Hometown	Mingora, Swat, Pakistan
Achievement	Nobel Peace Prize winner for advocacy of girls’ education
Books	Author of “I Am Malala”
Social Media Profile	instagram.com/malala

Laraib Atta

Laraib Atta is a talented Pakistani visual effects artist born in Mianwali. She is the talented daughter of a Pakistani musician, Attaullah Khan, who carved her own path to stardom.  She started her career in 2007 at the age of 19 and has worked on many famous Hollywood films. Her big success movies include 10,000 BC, The Chronicles of Narnia, Prince of Persia, Godzilla, and X-Men: Days of Future Past.  Also, she has been nominated for prestigious awards like Oscars and BAFTA for her work in the NO Time To Die (James Bond Series). 

Her work on the Netflix series Altered Carbon earned her a nomination for a Visual Effects Society Award. She has also worked on WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Laraib’s impressive skills in visual effects and compositing have made her a notable figure in the film industry, showcasing her ability to create stunning visual experiences. By September 2015, Laraib was employed at Imasblue and Glassworks Barcelona in Spain. She previously worked at the BBC Television Center in London, SKY, and MPC.

Full Name	Laraib Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi
Date of Birth	October 15, 1988
Hometown	Mianwali, Pakistan
Achievement	Visual effects artist for major Hollywood films like “Godzilla” and “X-Men: Days of Future Past”
Education	Graduate of Escape Studios, London
Social Media Profile	instagram.com/laraib.atta

Haris Khan

A few days before turning 11, Haris Khan, a young Irish Pakistani boy from Eire, Ireland, became one of the world’s youngest app developers with his app “Super Soccer Kicks” on the Apple App Store. Haris, who has made both his parents and Pakistan proud, started using Paint at just 4 years old and created his own website by age 8. His father, Mubarak, an IT specialist, and his mother, Kiran, a graphic designer, supported his interest, teaching him HTML, Objective-C, and graphic design. The app has received praise from both Pakistani and Irish media. “Super Soccer Kicks” is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod. Haris is already working on new games and apps.

His principal, Gobnait Uí Nuanáin, praised him as an excellent student and a shining example of Pakistani talent. Though there’s no official record for the youngest app developer, Haris, at 10 years old, is a notable figure. His efforts make young people pursue their passions and work hard. Haris moved to Ireland from Germany with his family at age 5, combining his love for sports and computer games to achieve this milestone.

Full Name	Haris Khan
Date of Birth	September 15, 2003
Hometown	Eire, Ireland
Achievement	Youngest app developer with ‘Super Soccer Kicks’ at 10 years old
Media Recognition	Featured in both Pakistani and Irish media for his achievements
Social Media Profile	facebook.com/officialpage.HarisKhan

Iman Qureshi

Iman Qureshi, born in Lahore on July 20, 1997, is a talented Pakistani tennis player who started playing at age 10. By her early teens, she had already made significant strides in the sport, becoming one of the top players in Asia under 14 and being the first Pakistani to achieve this. She won the National Women’s Cup at 11 and represented Pakistan in international tournaments like the Fed Cup in Kazakhstan (2013) and an Indian Tournament (2015). 

Iman is ranked second among under-18 female players in Pakistan. Despite facing challenges, including limited support for female athletes in Pakistan, she has excelled. She ranked 17th in the All-Asia Tennis Federation Championships in Syria (2010) and third in the ATF Doubles Championship. Iman also competed in the 2013 Fed Cup, where she and her teammate Sara Mansoor secured a win against Iran, helping Pakistan stay in the Asia/Oceania Group II. Apart from her tennis career, she has shown an interest in fashion, being spotted in trendy outfits by designer Deepak Perwani. 

Full Name	Iman Quraishi
Date of Birth	July 20, 1997
Hometown	Lahore, Pakistan
Achievement	Ranked second among under-18 female tennis players in Pakistan
International Competitions	Competed in ATF and Fed Cup tournaments representing Pakistan

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Babar Iqbal

Babar Iqbal, born on March 2, 1997, in Dera Ismail Khan, started programming when he was just 5 years old. He became famous as one of the youngest Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCP) at age 9. He also set records as the youngest CIWA, CWNA, Microsoft Student Partner (MSP), and MCTS in .NET 3.5 at ages 9, 10, 11, and 12, respectively. In 2009, Babar’s research was accepted by the 8th IEEE International Conference on Innovations in Information Technology. At that time, he was living in Dubai, working with Microsoft and training in IT. Babar and his team want to bring IT education to schools in Pakistan, especially in underprivileged and rural areas. 

His goal is to use technology to help young people and make a positive impact on the world. Starting from a young age, Babar has achieved remarkable milestones in IT, making Pakistan proud with his international records and recognitions. His contribution to his country earned him a spot in Tahheer’s list of young Pakistani prodigies.

Full Name	Babar Iqbal
Date of Birth	March 2, 1997
Hometown	Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan
Achievement	Youngest MCP, CWNA, CIWA, MSP, and MCTS; research accepted by IEEE
Current Work	Based in Dubai, UAE, collaborating with Microsoft

Syed Maaz Imran

In 2014, Syed Maaz Imran from Islamabad, Pakistan, represented his country at the Telenor Youth Summit in Oslo, where he also attended the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. His idea, chosen from over 800 applicants, was to create eTuitionHub, a website offering online tutoring globally. Maaz is eager to attend the OWYP Summer Training Conference in August 2014. He looks forward to connecting with other university students worldwide and learning practical skills in respectful communication, identity portrayal, empathy, and avoiding prejudice.

Originally from Karachi, Maaz enjoys traveling, meeting new people, and trying new experiences. Passionate about teaching, he aims to stand out and make a difference. Maaz Imran is currently a student at the National University of Science and Technology ( NUST), where he is studying Electrical Engineering.

Full Name	Syed Maaz Imran
Date of Birth	April 21, 1995
Hometown	Islamabad, Pakistan
Achievement	Represented Pakistan at Telenor Youth Summit, proposed eTuitionHub
Education	Pursuing Bachelors in Electrical Engineering
Website Created	eTuitionHub