Shifa has blossomed from a studious but shy student to an award-winning entrepreneur, designing an ingenious road safety device for hazardous fog.

Seventeen-year-old Shifa and her teammates won Enterprise Challenge Pakistan 2026 with their groundbreaking business idea of a device that converts fog to electricity, powering street lighting to cut road accidents in fog-prone regions.

Previously shy and hesitant to contribute her ideas, today Shifa sees herself as a leader and changemaker. Her award-winning all-girls team is now using their prize money to explore their potentially life-saving idea in real life.

‘Working on Nebulavolt made me realize that even students like us can solve national problems,’ Shifa explains. ‘To other young girls like me, I would say don’t underestimate yourself, because your ideas truly matter.’

Let there be light

Enterprise Challenge, delivered through our partner SEED Ventures, sees school students across Pakistan boost their entrepreneurship, teamwork and communication skills through coaching, mentoring and an online business simulation game. Teams of teenagers then develop and pitch their own business ideas in a national competition, focusing on concepts with positive social and environmental benefits as well as profit-making potential.

In Shifa’s home province of Sindh, southern Pakistan, thick fog can often disrupt travel, especially in winter, and road accidents surge in low-visibility conditions.

Shifa led an all-girl team from her school to develop an ingenious idea to solve this problem, drawing on the fog itself as an eco-friendly energy solution. The girls’ product, Nebulavolt, uses an absorbent mesh to capture and condense the water droplets in ambient fog, and nanogenerators then convert the energy from sliding droplets into electricity to power lighting.

From potential to performance

Studious and academic, Shifa had nonetheless doubted herself and her abilities before she took part in Enterprise Challenge Pakistan (ECP). Naturally reserved, she found public speaking and leadership particularly challenging.

But the programme’s combination of structured training, mentorship and hands-on practice empowered Shifa to step up and shine, helping her boost her critical thinking, problem solving and presentation skills – and with them her confidence and self-belief. Drawing on these skills, Shifa led her team through the regional and national finals to eventually claim the coveted title.

‘This programme didn’t just teach me business – it changed how I see myself,’ Shifa explains. ‘Before ECP, I was afraid to speak on stage. Now I can confidently present an idea that could save lives.’

Inspiring entrepreneurship

Now a confident and competent leader, presenter and entrepreneur, Shifa is keen to apply her growing skills to drive green innovation and development in her community and country.

‘Before this programme, I was just studying for exams and doubting my abilities. Today, I am building ideas for the future,’ Shifa explains. ‘I am most proud that our idea focuses on saving lives during fog season, and it has inspired my dream of becoming a successful green entrepreneur who brings sustainable energy solutions to Pakistan.’