Institute of Rural Management (IRM) has delivered entrepreneurship training in Skardu that is aimed at building practical skills and confidence among local participants, as announced by the institute on October 9. The training formed part of a project that was implemented by IRM with the support of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the announcement also acknowledged the European Union in Pakistan and GIZ Pakistan. By holding the sessions in Skardu, the project brought business learning directly to a community where opportunities for formal training in enterprise may not always be easy to find, and it allowed participants to take part without travelling to a distant city.
According to IRM, the participants were equipped with practical business knowledge, essential entrepreneurial skills and the confidence to turn their ideas into sustainable sources of income. The training was therefore designed to cover both the knowledge that is needed to start and run a small enterprise and the personal confidence that people need before they commit time and money to an idea. Moving from an idea to a working business is often the hardest step for first time entrepreneurs, and the institute described its work as preparing participants for exactly that step, so that they can think about how a business can provide a steady income over a longer period.
The initiative supports returning migrants and disadvantaged groups in exploring self employment opportunities and working towards a more secure economic future. Return migrants are people who have come back to their home communities, and for many of them the question of how to earn a living after returning is an immediate concern. Disadvantaged groups often face limited access to training, finance and networks, which makes support of this kind relevant to their circumstances. By focusing on these two groups, the project directs its attention to people who may benefit most from learning how to build a small business of their own, rather than depending only on employment that may not be available locally.
IRM said that the training reflects its commitment to promoting entrepreneurship, improving livelihoods and creating opportunities for all. The announcement was shared with hashtags that included economic empowerment, GIZ, IRM, entrepreneurship, self employment and Skardu, which describe the aims of the project and the place where the training took place. For participants in Skardu, the training offers a starting point for planning ventures of their own, and for IRM and GIZ it forms part of continuing work to support communities in developing skills, confidence and enterprise that can lead to sustainable incomes and a more secure economic future.
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