Abdul Saboor
Head of Abdul Saboor Group
Pull Quote:
“Abdul Saboor, the first engineer in his family, leads three ventures spanning assistive mobility, consultancy and adventure motorsports. Inspired by an Iron Man suit, his journey at NUST led to a robotic ankle for paralysed patients and a mission to make mobility accessible in Pakistan. Sahara iO has sold over 5,000 mobility devices through 50+ partners, while Abdul Saboor & Co. has served 140+ clients. He tells Flare about entrepreneurship, social impact and a promise made to his father”
Interview Transcript
Flare: Who is Abdul Saboor, and what is the Abdul Saboor Group?
Abdul Saboor: I am a NUST Mechanical Engineer and Melbourne Business School MBA graduate, supported by an Australia Awards scholarship. I lead the Abdul Saboor Group, comprising three businesses: Sahara iO (assistive mobility, founded 2016), Abdul Saboor & Co. (global mobility consultancy, founded 2022) and Madcap Adventures and Motorsports (launched 2026). Together, they focus on mobility, opportunity and exploration.
Flare: Tell us about your beginning as the first engineer in your family.
Abdul Saboor: I come from a lower-middle-class family. My father was a civil servant and was determined to provide his children with quality education. His commitment enabled me to attend NUST and become our family’s first engineer.
Flare: How did robotics inspire your Iron Man ambition?
Abdul Saboor: I developed an early interest in robotics and AI and initially wanted to build an Iron Man suit. Dr. Yasar Ayaz, Head of Robotics and AI at NUST, guided me towards wearable robots for people with mobility challenges. Over two years, I developed an intelligent ankle robot for people with paralysed ankles. I entered university seeking a job but graduated determined to build something for Pakistan.
Flare: How did your university project become a company?
Abdul Saboor: I established AIMS Academy for financial stability and worked at Lucky Cement and Bestway Cement to learn industrial operations. Returning to Islamabad in February 2016, I partnered with Kuniwer Faran Ali, while Muhammad Usman Yousaf joined as CTO. Sahara iO was founded in June 2016.
Flare: How did Sahara iO shift from wearable robots to wheelchairs?
Abdul Saboor: Pakistan’s market lacked basic powered mobility, making exoskeletons difficult to commercialise. We began selling electric wheelchairs to generate revenue and fund our wearable device, iO Alpha. Development is currently on hold because of funding constraints, and we are seeking an investor.
Flare: What does Sahara iO offer today?
Abdul Saboor: We supply electric, manual and sports wheelchairs, patient lifters, transfer chairs, powered beds and medical products, including glucometers and physiotherapy equipment. Our customers include government departments, NGOs, hospitals, individuals and retailers. We have also won several electric-wheelchair supply tenders.
Flare: What achievement are you most proud of?
Abdul Saboor: Our nationwide distribution network is our greatest achievement. We work with over 50 resellers and retail partners and have sold more than 5,000 wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Reaching remote areas, including Burwai, Moola Chotok, Kel and Parachinar, required years of travel and partnership-building. Our mission is to make assistive technology accessible across Pakistan.
Flare: How did you overcome staffing and funding challenges?
Abdul Saboor: We recruited people committed to our mission, some of whom rejected higher-paying jobs to join us. With few investors interested in healthcare hardware, I arranged inventory financing through friends and family on a Shariah compliant profit sharing basis without equity commitments. The funds have been repaid, and Sahara iO now operates on its own equity.
Flare: What are Sahara iO’s next milestones?
Abdul Saboor: We hold a DRAP establishment licence for importing medical devices and locally assemble and customise products. We aim to achieve ISO 13485 certification by June 30, 2028, and obtain CE marking. Our partnerships include NUST, STEP, DIA and PEDO. Following incubation at GIKI and PITB’s Plan9, we began exporting to Afghanistan, the UAE and Australia, with plans to expand into the Middle East, UK, Australia and New Zealand.
Flare: What services does Abdul Saboor & Co. provide?
Abdul Saboor: Our nine-member team has served over 140 clients, helping them before and after relocation. Services include higher education in Europe, Australia, the UK, USA and Canada; skilled migration; specialised visa pathways; Germany’s Opportunity Card; and investment and business options, including second citizenship by investment and Portugal’s D2 visa.
Flare: Why add motorsports to a group focused on mobility and migration?
Abdul Saboor: Madcap combines my passion for adventure with my concern for men’s mental health. During my studies in Australia, a classmate introduced me to Movember. I believe motorsports provide men with a healthy outlet, while better employment and family opportunities support the same goal.
Flare: What has Madcap achieved so far?
Abdul Saboor: From September 9–16, 2026, we organised a motorcycle tour from Islamabad through Burwai, Rama Meadows, Minimarg, Deosai and Skardu. Since January 2026, we have also held weekly Saturday sports-bike rides to the Murree Hills.
Flare: What comes next for Madcap?
Abdul Saboor: We plan international tours, heritage visits, overlanding, skiing, rafting, surfing, hiking, trekking, skydiving, paragliding and bungee jumping.
Flare: Where do you see the group in three to five years?
Abdul Saboor: I aim to build a recognised Pakistani group around consulting, mobility and technology. Sahara iO will expand its products and markets while seeking investment for iO Alpha. Abdul Saboor & Co. will guide more Pakistanis abroad, while Madcap will take adventurers from Pakistan’s northern areas to international destinations.
Flare: What advice would you give young Pakistani entrepreneurs?
Abdul Saboor: “Where there is a will, there is a way.” Focus on solving real problems rather than chasing money. A commitment to serving others helps entrepreneurs overcome challenges and create meaningful impact.
Flare: Whom would you like to thank?
Abdul Saboor: My father, who gave me an education and his trust. He is proud of what we have built and says my journey motivates him to keep going. That is my greatest reward.
