An international conference on "Innovation & Entrepreneurship - "Route to Economic Development" was hosted by the Centre of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) Central H-12 Campus here in Islamabad.
The International conference; the first of its kind, was well attended and broadcast live to all public and private sector universities of Pakistan. The chief guest was Professor Emeritus NUST, Engr Dr M Akram Sheikh (HI); former Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission as well as former Chairman Pakistan Engineering Council.
Dr Sohail Naqvi Executive Director HEC also graced the occasion along with several vice-chancellors of distinguished national universities, senior management from CSF, Comsats Institute of IT, members of the Corporate Sector along with senior representatives of relevant Ministries of Industries, Science & Technology and Education. To talk on Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Pakistan, William Baldridge, Director Economic Growth USAID also attended the ceremony.
The key speakers shed light on the theme of the conference. Principally it was stated that Pakistan is gifted with natural resources and complemented by a large pool of a young population. Universities have to play a pivotal role in creating a paradigm of higher education that result in building communities and leads to economic growth.
The key objective of the international conference was to raise awareness among researchers, both faculty as well as students, about the significance of innovation and Entrepreneurship towards economic development, through an active engagement of key stakeholders and decision makers from the government, various universities, as well as entrepreneurs; both successful and aspiring. The speakers called upon the youth to trust their ideas, persevere to see them grow and ultimately create rather than seek jobs.-PR