MoU inked: First Madrassa-based business incubation centre to be set up in Lahore

ISLAMABAD: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed to establish Pakistan's first Madrassa-based business incubation centre in Lahore, said a press release issued on Monday. The MoU was signed between Jamia Naeemia Lahore and Shaoor Foundation for Education and Awareness (SFEA), Islamabad.

Pakistan's first ever state-of-the-art Madrassa-based business incubation centre will be established at an area of 6,500 square feet in the new building of Jamia Naeemia in Mughalpura, Lahore. The purpose of this initiative would be to serve the cause of economic mainstreaming of the Madrassa students and graduates and create more socio-economic opportunities for otherwise marginalized populations.

The incubation centre shall provide basic entrepreneurial trainings, incubation facility, mentorship and networking opportunities to Madrassa students and graduates. Moreover, it would serve as a knowledge center for peace and civic education along with enhancement of employability and soft skills.

"There have been many discussions about mainstreaming Madrassas and their inclusion. In my opinion, preparing students to take entrepreneurial journeys, providing skills to secure jobs and economic opportunities for themselves and others meanwhile inculcating sense of civic and peace education is the best Madrassa reform one could think of - and we have taken the first tiny step in the right direction," said Syed Ali Hameed, who is the executive director of Shaoor Foundation and Islamabad-based serial entrepreneur.-PR

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020