By Hira Nafees Shah
U.S. Embassy Islamabad arranged a panel discussion for Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) at the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan Nov. 21. A number of academics, businessmen and women took part in the event to foster dialogue on the definition of ‘entrepreneurship’ and how it can be promoted in Pakistan.
Kashif Khan, president of GEW Pakistan and a 2013 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alumnus, hosted the event which consisted of 22 participants. Speaking at the session, Dr. Shahina Waheed, the national program coordinator at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization UNIDO, said it was important to develop an indigenous model of entrepreneurship which was consistent with the conditions in Pakistan.
The CEO of Roots Millennium Schools Faisal Mushtaq believed that entrepreneurship was already a mindset prevalent in Pakistan, as displayed in the local truck art. Fulbright Alumnus Zainab Kapadia said the hurdles in business and networking needed to be removed to create a favorable environment for producing something new. The regional lead for Enclude said, “A mindset change is needed to promote entrepreneurship in the country.”
MIT Enterprise Forum Pakistan Vice Chairman Syed Azhar Rizvi disagreed, while citing his experience training 12,000 students in the field. He said gloomy views of entrepreneurship in Pakistan are misguided, as there is tremendous growth underway in the country.
The managing director of Teradata Pakistan Khurrum Rahat shed light on an important point when he said that entrepreneurship seemed to be limited to urban areas and efforts also needed to be made to reach out to the youth of the rural areas.
Kashif Khan summed up the discussion saying there should be a focus on the motivation for becoming an entrepreneur. “How a new creation can help improve the society should also be highlighted,” he said.
