TOBA TEK SINGH: In the face of increasing unemployment and brain drain, it is a prerequisite to refurbish the business and entrepreneurship skills in the youth to curtail the tendency and to enable them to become job provider rather than job seeker.

These views were expressed by experts at a one-day workshop on “The Researcher Compass: From Skills to Social Responsibility and Society Building Version 1” organised by the Pak-Korea Nutrition Center (PKNC), Faculty of Food Nutrition and Home Sciences (FFNHS), in collaboration with Business Incubation Center (BIC) and National Incubation Center (NIC) at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF).

Dr Imran Pasha, dean FFNHS/central project director PKNC, said even developed countries are not offering complete job opportunities to its public but they support entrepreneurship for young generation.

He emphasised the need for researchers to consider the broader social implications of their work. “As researchers, we have a responsibility to ensure that our work benefits society as a whole, an entrepreneur can easily commercialise his research and can also become a job provider rather than job seeker.”

Dr Iftikhar Ahmad, director BIC, UAF, while highlighting the role of business incubation in supporting start-ups said that business incubation provides a supportive ecosystem for start-ups to grow and “we are committed to providing our entrepreneurs with the resources and expertise they need to succeed. The BIC is offering a free-of-cost working space equipped with all necessities for entrepreneurs to grow their business.”

Aimen Shahid, NIC programme manager, said entrepreneurship is crucial in driving economic growth with innovation. The entrepreneurship is a key to turning research into reality, and NIC is offering our researchers with the skills and support necessary to succeed in this space.

Dr Mian Kamran Sharif, associate professor, stated that the workshop aimed to equip researchers and entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the complexities of research and innovation, while also emphasising the importance of social responsibility and society building.

The workshop featured a range of interactive sessions and presentations from experts.

MINORITIES: The Minorities Alliance Pakistan (MAP) extends its unwavering support to the national-level decisions taken to eradicate terrorism from the country. “We deeply mourn the loss of innocent lives, including civilians and military personnel, in the Jaffar Express tragedy,” said Chairman of the Minorities Alliance Pakistan (MAP) Akmal Bhatti at Faisalabad on Wednesday.

He said: “We commend the unwavering commitment of our brave armed forces to eliminate terrorism and extremism and we stand united in their efforts to safeguard Pakistan’s peace and security.”

He said a stable and strong Pakistan is the guarantee of a secure future for all its citizens. He regretted that ‘genuine’ leadership from minorities communities was not included in these crucial decisions taken recently. “We believe that consultations with marginalised communities should have been included in the anti-terrorism campaign. We have diligently fought for national interests in the fields of defence, education, health, and politics. Every member of our community is ready to make any sacrifice to protect our homeland. Wherever needed, we will be available for the sake of national security and interests.”

He said time has come to empower true representatives of marginalised communities, including political leaders and parties, to play their role. Minorities have also suffered from terrorism and have borne the brunt of the fight against terrorism and extremism. “We have paid the price in terms of lives and property. Our churches, temples, gurdwaras, and other places of worship will hold special prayers for the protection of Pakistan and its security.”

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2025