26th October 2024: The Institute of Business Administration’s Center for Entrepreneurial Development (IBA-CED), a hub of innovation and creative learning in Pakistan, joined hands with the Saylani Welfare International Trust (SWT) on Saturday to launch the “Spark Start Entrepreneurship Program”.

The orientation ceremony, which was held at the IBA City Campus, marked the beginning of a six week-long initiative that aims to develop entrepreneurial skills of the youth. Fifty students were shortlisted from 1,000 applicants.

The opening address was delivered by IBA-CED Director Dr Lalarukh Ejaz, who underscored how important entrepreneurship is to create jobs and uplift youth to become self-reliant.

“This is a very exciting opportunity for IBA-CED to team up with an NGO doing such amazing work in Pakistan ---- we hope the students here leave this room having developed a robust understanding of the entrepreneurial mindset and can hopefully become catalysts to change Pakistan’s economy,” she added.

She acknowledged the partnership with SWT and thanked the representatives from Saylani, one of the largest NGOs in the country, for their support.

SWT Chairman Bashir Farooqi along with their board members. Shazaib Paracha, Abu Faisal, Amjad Chamdia, Afzal Chamdia, Furqan Aslam, Omar Khan were all in attendance.

Faisal shared his insights on the potential of entrepreneurship as a pathway to sustainable economic growth. He urged participants to embrace entrepreneurial ventures, noting that personal and professional growth in business ventures can exceed what is possible in traditional employment.