Zindigi and FAST-NUCES Islamabad Campus have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the university’s transition toward a cashless campus while creating opportunities for students to participate in entrepreneurship and startup development activities. The partnership combines digital financial services with an industry-academia collaboration aimed at giving students greater exposure to fintech, entrepreneurship and practical business opportunities. Under the agreement, students will also be connected with Zindigi Prize, a youth-focused social entrepreneurship platform that provides mentorship, training, funding opportunities and exposure to a wider entrepreneurial network. The collaboration adds FAST-NUCES Islamabad to Zindigi’s university-focused engagement efforts, which include initiatives around digitalisation, innovation, financial literacy and student leadership. FAST-NUCES has also recently highlighted discussions with the Zindigi Prize team around university digitalisation, a campus ambassador programme and opportunities for student innovation.
A key component of the partnership is the planned move toward a cashless campus environment. This involves encouraging the use of digital financial services for transactions within the university ecosystem, reducing dependence on physical cash and giving students greater exposure to digital payment tools. Zindigi’s university programme specifically includes promoting financial literacy, cashless transactions and awareness of modern banking services, while campus directors are expected to facilitate student engagement with Zindigi’s digital banking services. The FAST-NUCES collaboration therefore brings together the university’s student community and Zindigi’s digital financial platform in an environment where students can experience digital payments as part of everyday campus activities. The initiative also connects financial technology with student development, giving participants practical exposure to the transition from conventional cash transactions toward digitally enabled financial services.
The second major element of the MoU is student entrepreneurship through the Zindigi Prize. The programme is structured as a year-long social entrepreneurship initiative focused on developing ideas into startups through mentorship, funding and training. According to the Zindigi Prize platform, its programme includes campus rounds, regional competitions, an accelerator and final stages, while selected participants can access funding opportunities and expert guidance. The platform currently lists a PKR 1 million prize for the national winner, funding of up to PKR 5 million for other potential startups and scholarships of up to PKR 30 million for participants and campus directors. By connecting FAST-NUCES students with this network, the partnership can provide students with a route to develop business ideas, interact with mentors and participate in entrepreneurship activities beyond the university campus.
The partnership also reflects the growing interaction between universities and financial technology companies in Pakistan, particularly around digitalisation, entrepreneurship and career-oriented learning. FAST-NUCES Islamabad has been engaging with industry and external organisations through initiatives covering digitalisation, professional development, technology and entrepreneurship, while Zindigi Prize has established university chapters and campus directors across institutions in Pakistan. The Zindigi Prize platform lists campus representatives from universities including FAST-NUCES Peshawar, National University of Technology Islamabad and several other institutions, demonstrating the programme’s university-based structure. Through the new MoU, FAST-NUCES Islamabad students will have access to the Zindigi Prize ecosystem while the university works toward a more digitally enabled campus environment. The collaboration is therefore focused on two connected areas: increasing the use of digital financial services within the campus and providing students with structured opportunities to explore entrepreneurship and startup development.
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