Collaboration: A new centre to promote leadership, entrepreneurship

Enhance employment opportunities, promote human development and stir economic growth - government.

ISLAMABAD:

A unique venture to enhance employment opportunities, promote human development and stir economic growth has been taken up by the government and a private institution.

The Centre for Entrepreneurship and Leadership (CEL) is a joint collaboration of Ministry of Finance, SME Business Support Fund, and Shaheed Zulfiqar Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (Szabist).

It will “promote knowledge-driven growth in Pakistan and lift the country’s sagging rank at the Human Development Index, which experts say, is the result of low spending on human development”, said a press handout.

At present, the highest number of unemployed in Pakistan ranges between the ages of 20-24 years, and CEL will develop partnership with other stake holders to integrate and synergise efforts for the promotion of entrepreneurship culture. The project will be formally inaugurated on August 1.

CEL aims to nurture entrepreneurs in the society by teaching them management skills and knowledge to not only perform better as entrepreneurs, but also do better on their jobs.

This will be done through training workshops, seminars, panel discussions and research studies and media advocacy.  CEL’s focus will be university students and graduates in the age group of 20-30 years; women will be given equal share of opportunities.

Szabist Director Syed Asad Hussain believes that CEL will provide much-needed support to the young generation for becoming self-dependant, and utilise their skills for national development.



Published in The Express Tribune, July 30^th, 2011.