The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has completed a significant awareness campaign aimed at fostering entrepreneurship among university students to address national unemployment, a senior official revealed today.
The initiative, part of the ongoing Youth Entrepreneurship Programme, involved a series of seminars at a dozen higher education institutions across three major industrial cities.
The awareness sessions on Youth Entrepreneurship and Career Opportunities were organised in Lahore, Sialkot, and Faisalabad, in alignment with the SME development vision of the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Participating institutions included the University of Central Punjab, Rifah International University, GC Women”s University, Beaconhouse National University, and Lahore College for Women University, among others.
SMEDA”s Business Support Department handled the overall coordination and administrative supervision for the events. The department was responsible for liaising with the respective universities, scheduling the sessions, and appointing a resource person to lead the discussions.
A large number of students attended the workshops, where they received detailed guidance on identifying business opportunities, launching a startup, and creating business plans. The presentations also covered government support mechanisms, available financial facilities, and strategies for market access.
The seminars featured a dynamic question-and-answer segment, allowing for a lively discussion between attendees and the resource person on the practical aspects of establishing and running a business.
According to SMEDA officials, promoting an entrepreneurial orientation among the youth is expected to not only help in mitigating unemployment but will also play an important role in the sustainable development of the country’s economy.