What started as a shoestring backpacking adventure along the ancient Silk Road has transformed into a cross-border tech mission for Muhammad Zain Tariq, a Pakistani entrepreneur now building digital bridges between China and his homeland. 🇨🇳🇵🇰
At 19, Zain arrived in China with just a phrasebook and a passion for exploration. \"Hospitality opened doors everywhere,\" he recalls of his early travels, where locals welcomed him with tea and shared stories despite language barriers. 🏮✨
After mastering Mandarin in Shenzhen – China’s Silicon Valley – Zain spotted a golden opportunity when the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) launched in 2015. \"This wasn’t just infrastructure – it was a digital handshake waiting to happen,\" says the now-seasoned businessman.
Today, his IT company operates in both countries with a hybrid Chinese-Pakistani team. From streamlining cross-border e-commerce to developing translation apps that blend Urdu and Mandarin, Zain’s work embodies what he calls \"Silk Road 2.0 – bytes instead of camels.\" 🐪💻
His advice to young global hustlers? \"Learn China’s language, respect its culture, and watch how trust becomes your best business partner.\" 🌐🤲
