ISLAMABAD: KfW Development Bank and Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), in collaboration with Aga Khan Rural Support Programme formalised their partnership to support entrepreneurial culture in Pakistan.

The agreement, signed on Sunday at the AKF office, marks the official launch of the ‘Start-up Pakistan’ initiative. This project is expected to lead to improved job creation, innovation and economic resilience with a transformative impact on the entrepreneurial landscape of Pakistan, says a press release.

“The agreement signed today cements the commitment of both KfW and AKF to foster job creation, innovation, and sustainable growth in Pakistan. By targeting pre-revenue and post-revenue start-ups, this project aims to create over 2,500 direct jobs and support 1,500 entrepreneurs, 50pc of whom will be women and youth. It also contributes to Pakistan’s alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” it said.

According to press release, KfW mission, including Member Management Committee Stephan Opitz, Director Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq Cluster Dr Bianca Clausen and Director KfW Pakistan Sebastian Jacobi visited the National Science and Technology Park (NSTP) housed at National University of Science and Technology (Nust) to gain insights into Pakistan’s burgeoning start-up ecosystem.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2024