Business

Government plans to set up incubation centre in Quetta

With one centre already established in Islamabad, others in Karachi, Peshawar and Lahore are under development

APP July 15, 2017

PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD: The government has planned to set up a National Incubation Centre (NIC) in Quetta with the aim of promoting entrepreneurship in Pakistan, sources told APP on Friday.

Close to 700 start-ups are currently functioning in Pakistan; entrepreneurial activity is in full swing with the launch of multiple incubators, accelerators and investment funds, they added.

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Quetta also serves as a trade and communication centre between Afghanistan and Pakistan so it can be expected that the majority of locals already have business know-how.

The NIC Quetta will provide locals proper facilities, mentorship and funding opportunities to implement their ideas, said the sources.

This incubation centre is not the first of its kind as Ignite has already launched one in Islamabad, while centres in Karachi, Peshawar and Lahore are under development.

Ignite, formerly known as National ICT R&D Fund Company, has been actively promoting research, development, and innovation activities with the long-term goal of strengthening Pakistan’s economy.

Just recently, they announced the launch of DigiSkills, a programme to train one million youth with relevant skills, which would allow them to earn a respectable livelihood as freelancers.

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Earlier this year, they also launched an initiative to provide entrepreneurship training to 500 women across Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 15^th, 2017.

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COMMENTS (1)

Jim | 7 years ago | Reply These incubation centers (mainly Plan9) should stop focusing on publicity and self-promotion of individuals on the government's expense. The selection process should target people with technical skills, and incentivize them to deliver great products according to the lean methodology. There is no point amassing terrible startups with non-technical founders who build solutions nobody cares about.

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