Burhan Mirza
Burhan Mirza | |
|---|---|
Burhan Mirza at Opening Ceremony of Skills360 | |
| Born | March 5, 1981 Karachi, Pakistan |
| Education | Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Years active | 2003–present |
Muhammad Burhan Mirza (born March 5, 1981) is a Pakistani entrepreneur and business consultant known for his involvement in Pakistan's IT and startup sector. He is most notable for advocating for skill development initiatives for young graduates and career professionals.[1][2][3][4]
Early life and education
Mirza was born in March 11, 1981 in Karachi, Pakistan.[5] He studied Computer Engineering at Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1998 before returning to Pakistan, where he joined Tradekey, an E-commerce Trading platform.[3][5][6]
Career
After returning to Pakistan in the early 2000s, Mirza joined Tradekey, an E-Commerce Trading Platform with a business module similar to Ali Express. In the 2026, TEDx speaking event, he described being stuck at Tradekey's office during the 2007 assassination of Benazir Bhutto and was stuck at the office but still committed to working for client's delivery during the ordeal.[7]
In 2014, Burhan Mirza joined Digitonics, an IT and Software Development company which ran operations domestically as well as internationally. The company was later dissolved in 2021 and he later co-founded The Coach360 and Skills360, which focuses on Skill development in the IT Sector of Pakistan. Burhan Mirza is involved in Pakistan's technology and startup sector as an entrepreneur and investor.[8][9][10]
Controversies
In 12 January, 2021, Digitonics main office were raided by the Federal Investigation Agency of Pakistan on accounts of money laundering and extortion and nine people were arrested, including Burhan Mirza.[11] The division bench of the Sindh High Court Justice Naematullah Phalpato questioned the raid citing "it was illegal and without any lawful act.[12]
The case was later dissolved on April 18, 2023 by Sessions Judge Abdul Naeem Memon, who approved a supplementary charge sheet recommending a closer of the case due to "lack of prosecutable material".[13] [14] The court approved the FIA's recommendation and the sureties were discharged for all of the accused persons citing that the clarified order leaves no interpretation of the case reopening in the future if substantial evidence emerges.[14][15][16]
Public engagement
In 2026, mirza delivered a TEDx talk at TEDxMAJU on "The Power of Chaos" where he discussed about entrepreneurship and his personal growth.[7]
In media interviews and commentary, Mirza has discussed challenges in Pakistan's technology industry, including gaps between academic education and industry requirements, and has advocated for skill-based learning and workforce development.[17][18]
Community initiatives
Through The Coach360, Mirza has supported philanthropic programs focused on youth development. The most notable program was in collaboration with Karachi United WFC.[19]
References
- ^ Research, B. R. (2023-11-17). "Interview with Burhan Mirza, Corporate Innovator, Investor and Entrepreneur". Brecorder. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ Samad, Abdul (2023-08-31). "The Importance of Human Capital in an increasingly Tech-Driven Workplace". Aurora Magazine. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ a b Ali, Sarfraz (2025-06-23). "Muhammad Burhan Mirza on Improving Pakistan's IT Infrastructure". Daily Pakistan English News. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ Zaidi, Nazzir (2026-05-18). "Why Teaching Kids About Financial Literacy Might Be the Most Important Lesson of All". ProPakistani. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ a b Siddiqi (2025-10-16). "Burhan Mirza and the billion-dollar Pakistani IT industry". Trade Chronicle. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ "What makes a business investable? Insights from Muhammad Burhan Mirza". The Nation. 2026-04-09. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ a b "Nothing Extraordinary Comes Out of Comfort: Burhan Mirza at TEDx Talk - CB Herald". 2026-05-01. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
- ^ Report, Recorder (2024-03-04). "'Coach360' launches 'Skills360'". Brecorder. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ Zaidi, Nazzir (2025-01-14). "In Conversation with Burhan Mirza: Empowering Youth Through Skills360 and Career Coaching". ProPakistani. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ Report, Recorder (2024-03-04). "'Coach360' launches 'Skills360'". Brecorder. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
- ^ Lince, Tim. "Bribery, impersonation, abuse: shocking details revealed in Pakistan fraud case that targeted USPTO users". www.worldtrademarkreview.com. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
- ^ "SHC questions the FIA's raid at Digitonics Lab | The Correspondent". 2021-02-09. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
- ^ Staff, MM News (2023-05-02). "Karachi court drops cybercrime charges against Digitonics Labs". MM News. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
- ^ a b "Sindh High Court Order dated 18 May 2023 - Constitutional Petition involving Digitonics Lab". Internet Archive. 2023-05-18. Retrieved 18 June 2026.
- ^ "Karachi Court Dismisses Cybercrime Case on Digitonics Lab". Point Blend. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
- ^ "Court Drops Cybercrime Charges Against Karachi Firm – To The Point". Retrieved 2026-06-18.
- ^ "Burhan Mirza: 'This budget isn't startup friendly, it's startup deadly'". The Nation. 2025-06-11. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ "Why South Asia's Brightest Are Leaving and How to Bring Them Back". Pakistan Today. 2025-10-22. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ^ Zaidi, Nazzir (2025-08-16). "The Coach360 Amplifies Stories of Young Female Footballers in Karachi". ProPakistani. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
