The concept of entrepreneurship and enterprise is new to Pakistan, and this is an area that has huge potential for development. It is a priority for both national and provincial vocational authorities.

Research shows that a culture of enterprise in which people are encouraged to be creative, solve problems and drive change is an essential element to economic development, the creation of new jobs and the generation of wealth for both economic and societal gain.

Skills for Employability is promoting such culture by organising Enterprise Competition for young people between the age of 16 and 21 in the CSA region for the last two years. The competition is growing each year and this year round we are aiming to reach out even a greater number of students and colleges.

Through their ideas for finding solutions to a set challenge, students are encouraged to be creative and think outside the box as well as develop their skills of team work, problem solving, communication, financial literacy and leadership.

The competition is held nationally in each CSA country and then all the national winners come together and compete with each other. The team from Pakistan had won the first such regional competition held in 2008. Their project was to produce fertilizer from the garbage collected from around the city. The project is now become self-sustainable and the team is carrying the project forward very effectively. Read more.

The National Vocational and Technical Education Commission (NAVTEC) organised its first ever National Skills Competition in 2009, and also participated in the British Council Regional Enterprise Awards. The participation of NAVTEC in Regional Enterprise Awards is a step towards making this activity sustainable and constant in Pakistan.