Islamabad, Pakistan – Big things dey happen for Punjab as 54 business ideas don land from babes wey dey study for 40 universities inside di province. Dis one na for seed funding wey go help make dem shine. Salma Saadia, wey be di Parliamentary Secretary for Women Development Department, yarn dis gist for Wealth Pakistan, and she no dey hold back any breath.
Dis Youth Pitch Program wey dem start na to empower di female innovators as dem dey shine for entrepreneurship. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz waka come bless di initiative to help female students build dem business ideas wey go fit turn to proper startups (E go sweet if dem fit make am happen!).
Di slogan wey di government dey carry show, “Muzboot Aurat, Muzboot Punjab,” mean say di women go get strong. Na so di government dey try make sure say women no just dey finish school, but dem get clear plan for work after graduation.
Di Women Development Department call belleful female students from 40 universities come pitch dem ideas. Everybody dey gree say dis one go help generate fresh ideas and connect universities wey dey work hand in hand. Dem finally shortlist di best 54 ideas based on criteria wey dey well structured and transparent. Na wah!
Di students apply online, and no be small work as dem submit dem startup concepts. Faculty committee for each university examined di proposals and select di best ones based on three thematic areas wey dem align with di program’s goal. (E be like say dem dey carry cruise for dis selection).
Next level be say dem go invite di shortlisted participants to present dem ideas next month. Di department no wan leave anybody behind; dem don plan training sessions for di babes as dem dey prepare to take dem ideas to di next level. Dis one go create environment wey no just dey supportive but go dey encourage dem to grow and flair for entrepreneurship. Abeg, where di men dey?
Di best ideas go receive seed money wey be between Rs500,000 to Rs1 million, just to help di top ten business ideas kickstart dem journey and bring dem visions to life. Salma also yan say dem don allocate Rs35 million for di Financial Year 2025–2026 to boost di whole Youth Pitch Program. Na digitize e be, to make sure say everything dey transparent like clear palm wine.
Yamena Ahmed, one sharp university student wey dey full of fire, talk say di program dey give dem hope. E dey inspire her and her mates as di government dey provide support for dem ideas. She gree say women dey work alongside men in different sectors, and she dey proud say woman na di Chief Minister wey dey lead Punjab, giving dem better opportunities to flourish in all areas of life.
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