Entrepreneurship programme launched

‘Development impossible without active participation of women in economic activities’

ISLAMABAD:

Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Monday launched an entrepreneurship programme with an aim to provide students with the opportunity to acquire business skills and foster trade and entrepreneurship in the country.

While addressing the launching ceremony, President ICCI Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari said that women comprise about 52 per cent of the local population and that sustainable development was not possible without their full involvement in economic activities. There is a pressing need to prioritise entrepreneurship as it becomes increasingly impractical to accommodate the growing number of university graduates in both public and private sectors, he added.

Director Federal Directorate of Education Professor Aftab Tariq, principals, members of chambers and a large number of students from various educational institutions of Islamabad participated in the ceremony.

On the occasion, President ICCI emphasised the criticality of reconstructing the outdated government schools and colleges in Islamabad, which have been in existence for 50-60 years. Urging the allocation of resources to uplift these educational institutions, he highlighted the significance of prioritizing IT education across all government schools and colleges in the city. Additionally, he expressed the readiness of the Islamabad Chamber to actively contribute towards establishing Islamabad as a thriving IT hub.

In his statement, he conveyed that the ICCI was fully prepared to offer skill training to students in entrepreneurship and business through the entrepreneurship programme initiated by the Islamabad Chamber. He further expressed his commitment to providing financial support for establishing an IT lab in Islamabad College for Girls. Moreover, he advocated for the inclusion of business figures from Islamabad to contribute resources and facilities to other colleges in the region.

He proposed that every school and college should designate a dedicated space for the education of out-of-school children, ensuring they receive proper education. Additionally, he emphasised that the ICCI's programme presents a valuable opportunity for students in educational institutions across Islamabad to acquire business skills alongside their regular studies.

He said that the IT sector offers the most promising prospects for youth entrepreneurship. He also acknowledged the government's efforts in the current budget to support entrepreneurial initiatives. Furthermore, he proposed that for the effective promotion of entrepreneurship, the government should consider providing youth with easily manageable loans, facilitating their entrepreneurial endeavors through flexible installment plans.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2023.