Alibaba hosted the grand finale of its Pakistan Key E-commerce Leader (KEL) Awards in Lahore, celebrating the exceptional achievements of the country’s top e-commerce sellers. Six finalists showcased their success stories through compelling presentations, highlighting the strategies that propelled them forward on the Alibaba.com platform.
At the event, Tayyub Hussnain from Norwich Streetwear and Muzafar Hussain from JNM Leather Safety Gloves were crowned Alibaba.com Pakistan Key E-commerce Leaders for 2024. These two winners will represent Pakistan in the upcoming KEL Awards Regional Finale in Vietnam. Tayyub Hussnain also took home the People’s Choice Award, winning the audience’s favor for his impressive entrepreneurial journey.
The Pakistan KEL Awards, held in partnership with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), saw an esteemed panel of judges, including TDAP Assistant Director Adil Mukhtar, Alibaba.com’s Head of Pakistan Business Rocky Lu, Senior Growth Manager Muhammad Sadiq, and Seller Operations Manager Joanna Xu. The panel evaluated each finalist based on their presentations, which highlighted their innovative approaches to e-commerce and global trade.
“The Pakistan KEL Awards celebrate the remarkable talent and resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan,” said Rocky Lu, Head of Pakistan Business at Alibaba.com. “This is not just a competition but a platform to showcase their success on a regional stage. We hope to inspire more SMEs to seize opportunities in the global marketplace.”
The KEL Awards aim to bring together top suppliers from across South and Southeast Asia, fostering mutual learning and expanding influence within Alibaba.com’s global network. With more than 250 global sellers participating, the competition promotes innovation and excellence in e-commerce.
TDAP Director General Rafia Syed underscored the importance of this recognition on a global scale, stating,
“The KEL Awards mark a significant milestone for Pakistan’s e-commerce sector, showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit of our local businesses to the world.”
One of the standout finalists, Tayyub Hussnain, shared his inspiring journey from a modest beginning to achieving remarkable success through Alibaba.com. After starting his career with a small salary and a government-provided laptop, Hussnain leveraged the platform to secure his first major order of 770 clothing pieces. His persistence and focus on quality culminated in a $1 million order in 2023, solidifying his place as a leader in Pakistan’s e-commerce landscape.