AJK University organizes workshops for entrepreneurs and startups

MUZAFFARABAD, Dec 14: The Indus Entrepreneur (TiE) Islamabad in collaboration with Azad Jammu and Kashmir University’s Business Incubation Center and AJK Information Technology Board (AJKITB) organized a workshop to provide an opportunity to the students, alumni, graduates of other universities, and faculty to develop their business ideas into successful products and ventures.

The main purpose of the workshop held at Education Block of the Chellah Campus of the university was to guide, train and mentor aspiring young innovators, idea enthusiasts, and entrepreneurs for the upcoming Startup Competition of Pakistan, Pakistan Startup Cup 2022.

The event was addressed by Dr. Khalid Rafique, Director General Azad Jammu and Kashmir Information Technology Board, Mr. Fakhr of TiE Islamabad, Dr. Wajid Aziz Lone, Head of Business Incubation Center, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Mohsin Banday, Director, Business Incubation Center, while National Bank of Pakistan Regional Head Farrukh Jalil, Sadia Rehman and senior officers of Tie Islamabad also spoke on the occasion.

This was the first event of its kind in which a large number of young entrepreneurs from Azad Jammu and Kashmir participated in various sessions with a view to enlisting the help of various institutions of the country for the practical implementation of their business ideas.

Speaking on the occasion Dr. Khalid Rafique, Director General AJK IT Board said we are living through the most exciting and fortunate times in the history of Azad Jammu & Kashmir with rapidly evolving and improving internet connectivity and access to online resources and services.

“It is the right time for existing and aspiring young entrepreneurs and investors to come forward and transform their business ideas into actions. He applauded TiE to bring such a great opportunity for the young entrepreneurs of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The speakers told the participants that Azad Jammu and Kashmir University would soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding MoU) with the National Bank of Pakistan under which the bank would provide one lakh to two and a half crore business loans to young entrepreneurs especially women on very soft terms for business purposes. This will not only start economic activities in the state but will also help in curbing the rapidly rising unemployment.

In this workshop, young and aspiring entrepreneurs were trained to go through the process of idea to business development to get started and prepare themselves for the upcoming “Pakistan Startup Cup 2022”. This workshop is designed to develop broad knowledge on the journey of an entrepreneur from an idea to the growth phase of their company.

The Indus Entrepreneur Islamabad announced the eighth Pakistan Startup Cup on November 8 this year in partnership with the US Embassy in Islamabad. Tie Islamabad has been organizing the Startup Cup for the last ten years, a national-level business competition in which young entrepreneurs from across the country take part.

On this occasion, the officials of Tie Islamabad selected the youngsters from Azad Jammu and Kashmir for the next phase whose ideas were the best.