A business partnership has been formed in Pakistan to create jobs,
encourage training and improve living standards for women and young
people in poor rural areas.
Dairy industry executives and other business people have been brought
together by the International Business Leaders’ Forum and the Pakistan
Poverty Alleviation Fund to build sustainable development in rural
communities.
In a country where a quarter of the people live below the poverty line
and there is widespread youth unemployment, the business partnership
will give financial support and training to small farmers and the
unemployed.
The new project is linked to an existing IBLF initiative in Pakistan to
help disadvantaged young people start their own businesses. Its Youth
Business International (YBI) programme, which was started by the Prince
of Wales, will provide loans and mentoring for young entrepreneurs.
The programme is modelled on the Prince’s Trust, which in the UK puts
talented young people together with mentors who have experience of
running businesses and finding the necessary finance.
YBI has supported more than 15,000 young entrepreneurs on six
continents, creating more than 50,000 jobs. Last year YBI was involved
in starting more than 1,800 businesses.
