Soft Launch of Kamyab Jawan Startup Pakistan Programme Held at QAU

Launch event of pilot of Kamyab Jawan “Startup Pakistan” Programme hosted by Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) Islamabad and Bir Ventures held here on Monday.

Startup Pakistan is a flagship initiative of Kamyab Jawan Program by the Government of Pakistan, envisioned to develop a national startup ecosystem that provides one million young people training in entrepreneurship and launch 10,000 startups by 2023, as well as create jobs and economic activity in an inclusive, scalable, and sustainable way. Startup Pakistan aims to connect whole ecosystem through a single digital platform, breaking silos, exchanging knowledge, and providing access to funding/Investment through a single window.

Chief Guest of the event, Minister of Planning, Development and Reform, Asad Umar, in his speech said that Pakistan needs 1.7 million jobs per year and its need of hour to create more jobs through startups who would contribute to economic activity and growth of the country. Startups boost production of goods and services and open new market segments through innovation and advance technology.

In his welcome address Vice Chancellor, QAU, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali shared his views on entrepreneurship & startup. Appreciating Government’s initiative, he said incubation centers in different universities working in isolation, now will get a platform for collaboration.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs, Usman Dar, and Minister of Planning, Development and Reform, Mr. Asad Umar inaugurated the Pilot programme of Startup Pakistan. During his speech, Mr. Dar highlighted the importance of startups in creating jobs and economic activity. He added that through the Startup Pakistan Kamyab Jawan programme, the government will utilize public private partnerships to create such opportunities to empower the youth.

Focal person for Startup Pakistan, Mr. Shahzad Gul in his address explained that Startup Pakistan is focusing on change of culture through promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship as a career choice, engaging overseas Pakistanis in mentoring the generation next. We are looking forward to capacity enhancement to improve effectiveness and efficiency in delivering training, he added.

Hassan Syed, Co-Host of the event, Chairperson Bir Ventures and founder of IdeaGist, invited the younger generation to innovate in order to get ahead in the knowledge economy. Bir Ventures is a major supporter of Startup Pakistan by providing its world’s largest digital incubation platform, IdeaGist, he added. Mr. Syed explained that the pilot is being held in 8 cities as a collaboration between universities and Bir Ventures (IdeaGist).

Chairman NAVTTC, Syed Javed Hassan, Secretary OIC PTI, Abdullah Riar, Microsoft representative, Arsalan Shahid, Director ORIC, COMSATS, Dr. Raza Ahmed Khan also addressed at the event.