ISLAMABAD: The inclusion of numerous innovation hubs, incubation centres and venture capital funds are helping the startup community to grow in Pakistan, said Syed Aminul Haque, Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunications.

"The entrepreneurial ecosystem is on the rise in the country as startups are creating jobs, empowering the underprivileged communities and making Pakistan technologically-enabled," said the minister, during his visit to the National Incubation Centre Islamabad, funded and set up by Ignite under the auspices of the Ministry of IT and Telecom.

The NIC Islamabad is being managed by TeamUp in collaboration with Jazz. During the visit, the IT minister met with the startups incubated in the centre. The minister said the youth were the future and an asset. The federal minister said the youth of Pakistan had great talent and the Ministry of IT was focusing on the uplift of the youth.

He said the Ministry of IT was committed to equip the youth with digital skills. He said the projects of startups were laudable. The federal minister for IT said the recent inclusion of numerous innovation hubs, incubation centers and venture capital funds were helping the startup community to grow in Pakistan.

"These incubation spaces will help us built a knowledge-based economy and help build a progressive and "Digital Pakistan"."

The startups are creating jobs, empowering the underprivileged communities, and making Pakistan technologically-enabled, he said. Syed Junaid Imam, CEO Ignite said, over 60 percent of the population comprise youth. They are the future.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020