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Enterprise Challenge Pakistan National Finals 2017 held at British Deputy High Commission

The National Finals for Enterprise Challenge Pakistan, a Prince’s Trust International programme, was held at the British Deputy High Commission on Thursday 16th November, with special attendance from Governor Sindh Mohammad Zubair, British Deputy High Commissioner Elin Burns, and Prince’s Trust International CEO Jonathan Townsend.

27th November 2017

The National Finals brought together six teams of Enterprise Challenge finalists from cities across Pakistan to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges. The winning team was from Gilgit Baltistan and Team Federal was awarded the audience choice award.

Winners from last year’s competition, who received an investment of £3000, were also present to encourage the participants and talk about how the programme had shaped their future and helped them in setting up their ventures.

Since its launch in Pakistan two years ago, the programme is now delivered in 28 cities across the country across 44 schools, and has supported more than 10,000 school children in Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, Kashmir, and Gilgit Baltistan.

The Prince’s Trust International Enterprise Challenge programme is the largest business challenge initiative for school children in Pakistan and is delivered in partnership with SEED Ventures. SEED Ventures is a Social Entrepreneurship & Equity Development organization and investment firm. The programme is also supported by ZAFA Group, Jubilee Life Insurance and Engro Foundation.

Enterprise Challenge is an established Prince’s Trust International programme that helps young people aged 13-16 learn the basics of setting up and running a successful business with the help of business mentors and a business stimulation game. The programme is also delivered in the U.K. and Jordan to encourage and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Faraz Khan, SEED CEO and Co-founder said, “Enterprise Development is SEED’s core mandate and we recognise that young people can contribute immensely to this ecosystem. Hence the pace, quality and scale of Enterprise Challenge Pakistan is of utmost importance and we need to engage our budding entrepreneurs from a very early age as they have the potential to resolve the economic challenges and bring about an immensely noticeable change in the country’s economy.”