ISLAMABAD: UNDP released its latest report titled ‘State of Youth Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in Pakistan’ at a high-level ceremony held at a local hotel in Islamabad.
The event was attended by Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunications, Rana Mashhood Khan, Chairperson of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program, UNDP Resident Representative Dr. Samuel Risku, and Youth Development Advisor at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Mr. Samuel Risku. did. .Sushil Ram.
The event was also attended by students, young entrepreneurs, policy makers, and academics. This report, jointly produced by UNDP and Citi Foundation in collaboration with UNDP Pakistan, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and Federal Secretariat, provides a comprehensive overview of the growth and evolution of Pakistan’s youth entrepreneurship ecosystem. is being mapped.
This highlights the need for concerted efforts and targeted efforts to establish a more inclusive environment for aspiring entrepreneurs in the country. This study was conducted and analyzed through Youth Co:Lab’s Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Diagnostic Framework. This framework consists of six domains to identify and comprehensively explore the barriers and facilitators to establishing an inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem.
These areas focus on policy and regulatory frameworks, human capital and entrepreneurial culture, access to finance and incentives, business development support and infrastructure, access to markets, innovation and technology. Although Pakistan’s youth entrepreneurship ecosystem has shown impressive growth and potential, there remains a need to address the specific challenges faced by youth.
The report advocates for stronger collective efforts and targeted efforts to establish an inclusive environment for all aspiring entrepreneurs. In this regard, Dr. Samuel Risk, UNDP Resident Representative to Pakistan, emphasized the usefulness of the report and stressed the importance of building a gender-inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem.
He said: “This report provides simple, practical and practical advice for all stakeholders, with the aim of accelerating our collective efforts to build an inclusive entrepreneurship environment for young people. It outlines actionable recommendations.”
Syed Hussain Quadri, Director of Resilience and Climate Action at IsDB, emphasized the importance of cooperation between key stakeholders, saying: “We need to strengthen collaborative efforts between these stakeholders and develop targeted policies and policies. By implementing the program, we can foster a vibrant and prosperous ecosystem, enabling the country’s youth to realize their entrepreneurial aspirations.” Sushil Ram echoed this sentiment, saying, “By working with all stakeholders, we can create an environment in which all young people can realize their entrepreneurial potential and contribute to society.” . We will build a brighter, more prosperous future for everyone. ”
Recognizing the report’s potential to inform policy, Rana Mashhood Khan, Chair of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program, said: ‘This report provides us with important building blocks through its findings and recommendations. “The next step is to actively work on its implementation.” Turn aspirations into action and rhetoric into results. ”
