Top leaders of business community, business-education and entrepreneurs at a conference stressed that young generation to be the "job provider instead of job seeker" through the entrepreneurship. They further stressed upon the need to encourage entrepreneurial potential in the country for getting better business opportunities in globe, adding that entrepreneurship is about devising and implementing new ideas and improving old ones.
The speakers said this during the "Entrepreneurship Conference" which was organised by Pakistan US Alumni Network (PUAN) - Karachi Chapter and US Consulate General Karachi, here at local hotel on Wednesday to commemorate the "Global Entrepreneurship Week".
Mohammad Azfar Ahsan, Member National Executive Committee, PUAN & General Secretary Karachi Chapter delivered address of welcome in the first session. Michael Dodman, US Consulate General said that the US government was making all-out efforts to highlight Pakistan's potential regarding the entrepreneurship so that the US businessmen could invest in sectors of their choice.
He said the US government would do all it could to promote men and women entrepreneurship in the country. It's our desire to promote the opportunities for Pakistani youth as they could be entrepreneurs and could serve their country. Nadeem Naqvi, Managing Director Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) delivered his speech through presentation on the topic of "Fostering Entrepreneurship for Economic Growth" and stressed the young generation to do their businesses rather than running behind the jobs. Sirajuddin Aziz, President and CEO Habib Metropolitan Bank delivered his speech on the topic of "Responsible Entrepreneurship-Transforming Society" saying that "small and medium sized entrepreneurs are vital to the economic growth of the country".
After questions and answers, the second session of the conference started with panel discussion on "Fostering Entrepreneurial Mindsets through Education and Learning". Panelists Irfan Siddiqui, President and CEO Meezan Bank Limited, Dr Shaukat A. Brah, Dean Karachi School for Business and Leadership and Zafar A. Siddiqui, Director Centre for Entrepreneurial Development IBA shed light on the topic.
They were of the view that in our country, entrepreneurship sprit should be started from school and it would be promoted in the larger interests of the country and the nation. They said that entrepreneurs need to start inventing their own concepts. We need to teach our budding entrepreneurs to be risk taking and promote small adventures.
The third and final session of the conference was also based on panel discussion. The panelists Arif Habib, Chairman Arif Habib Group, Mohammad Ali Tabba, CEO Lucky Cement Limited, Asif Jooma, President Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Dr Zeelaf Munir, Chairperson English Biscuit Manufacturers (Pvt) Limited spoke on the topic of "Role of Entrepreneurs in Socioeconomic Development.
They said that entrepreneurship is all about having a mindset; it's about thinking out of the box. No matter how many definitions you look at, entrepreneurship is mainly about continuously striving to do something new and better while maintaining economic viability, they added. They said that philanthropy is not sustainable, only the entrepreneurship could get any body or a nation out of the economic crises and create employment opportunities in bulk.
They said female empowerment is the result of promoting the entrepreneurship all over the world and in Pakistan as well. The conference focused on inculcating a culture of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship in mid to large corporations and fostering innovation in the Pakistan entrepreneurial ecosystem. The speakers at the conference stressed upon the need for continuous innovation and upgradation, and gave numerous examples of other countries where governments mainly sponsored entrepreneurship-based initiatives.