Lahore, At a conference held at Punjab University, Minister for School Education Rana Sikandar Hayat emphasized the critical role of entrepreneurship in empowering women and bolstering the country’s economy. The event, themed ‘Education for Entrepreneurship,’ was organized by the university’s Institute of Education and Research and took place at Waheed Shaheed Hall.

According to University of the Punjab, Minister Hayat addressed the gathering of the 15th post-graduate students’ conference, highlighting successful models from Bangladesh, India, and Malaysia where women have played pivotal roles in national development through entrepreneurial ventures. He stressed the importance of integrating technology and entrepreneurship education to harness the potential of Pakistan’s youth, which constitutes 64% of the population.

During the conference, Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood and IER Director Prof Dr Tariq Mehmood also spoke about institutional initiatives to foster an entrepreneurial mindset among students. Prof Dr Mahmood noted that entrepreneurship has been made a compulsory subject across all undergraduate programs, and the university has established a Business Incubation Center to support student ventures. He mentioned a recent entrepreneurship gala at the university where students showcased new business ideas, with pharmacy department students notably creating and selling their own brands online.

The conference aimed to shed light on the various aspects of research and the role of academic institutions in developing entrepreneurial skills. Prof Dr Tariq Mehmood remarked on the success of the IER in hosting multiple educational programs and international conferences over the past eight months, underscoring the significance of such initiatives in shaping future leaders and innovators.