Quetta- A workforce readiness initiative supported by the U.S. Mission to Pakistan in partnership with the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN) has successfully completed its institution-based training phase after concluding its fifth and final two-day workshop at the National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Quetta Campus, on 23–24 July 2026. The PUAN Grants Program project, “Empowering Balochistan’s Youth: Bridging Workforce Skills with Trade, Technology and Entrepreneurship,” is being implemented by Dr. Furqan Ul Haq Siddiqui, an alumnus of the U.S.-Pakistan University Partnership Program (2017), Director of the Business Incubation Center at the University of Balochistan, and a member of the PUAN Quetta Chapter.
The final training marked the successful conclusion of a series of institution-based capacity-building workshops designed to equip university students across Quetta with practical workforce skills aligned with trade, technology, entrepreneurship, and investment opportunities. Over the course of the project, similar trainings were conducted at the University of Balochistan, BUITEMS, Government College of Commerce, Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University, and NUML Quetta Campus, creating a strong foundation for the project’s next phase.
At NUML Quetta, around 50 students participated in the two-day training under the theme “Workforce Readiness for Trade, Technology and Investment.” Through a combination of expert-led sessions, practical exercises, collaborative activities, and business idea development, participants strengthened their entrepreneurial mindset while gaining practical skills in digital literacy, e-commerce, career readiness, professional communication, market linkages, and investment readiness.
The opening ceremony featured welcoming remarks by Ms. Maria Hina, Head of the Department of Management Sciences at NUML Quetta, who appreciated the inclusion of NUML in the project and highlighted the importance of practical, market-oriented learning opportunities for university students, particularly young women preparing to enter the workforce. Participants were introduced to the objectives of the PUAN Grants project and encouraged to actively engage in hands-on learning, group discussions, and business idea development exercises throughout the training.
Over two days, participants attended six interactive sessions delivered by experienced trainers and subject experts. The curriculum covered entrepreneurship and business idea development, digital literacy and technology skills for trade, career readiness and professional communication, investment readiness, market linkages, trade and technology integration, e-commerce, and digital trade platforms. The training concluded with an integrated group activity during which participants presented business ideas and received constructive feedback on innovation, feasibility, customer focus, communication, and market relevance.
The sessions were facilitated by Dr. Furqan Ul Haq Siddiqui, Prof. Dr. Saubia Ramzan, Dr. Muhammad Danish, Dr. Safia Bano, and Dr. Khurram Shehzad, who combined interactive discussions with practical learning to help participants transform innovative ideas into viable business and career opportunities. Throughout the training, students worked in teams to identify community needs, develop business concepts, analyze target customers, and explore strategies for accessing digital markets and investment opportunities.
The closing ceremony was attended by Ms. Samreen Zaheer, Regional Director of NUML Quetta Campus, and Ms. Maria Hina, Head of the Department of Management Sciences. They distributed certificates to participants and presented a commemorative shield to the training team in recognition of their contributions. Speaking at the ceremony, Ms. Samreen Zaheer appreciated the collaborative initiative and emphasized the importance of capacity-building programs that equip young people with the knowledge, confidence, entrepreneurial mindset, and professional skills needed to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving economy.
The NUML training produced several tangible outcomes. Participants gained practical knowledge of entrepreneurship, digital commerce, workforce readiness, professional communication, investment readiness, and technology-enabled business development. Working in groups, students developed business concepts addressing local challenges, identified target markets, explored customer needs, and strengthened their teamwork, presentation, and entrepreneurial skills. The project also generated business idea presentations, training documentation, participant feedback, and other resources that will support the next phase of the initiative.
With the completion of the institutional training phase, the project now moves into its next milestone—the Inter-Institution Business Idea Competition. Students from all five participating institutions will have the opportunity to submit innovative and commercially viable business ideas developed during the trainings. Following an evaluation process, shortlisted teams will compete in the final competition, planned for the second half of August 2026, where they will present their ideas before a panel of experts. The competition aims to encourage innovation, strengthen entrepreneurial thinking, and provide young people with a platform to transform promising ideas into practical business opportunities.
Through the PUAN Grants Program, alumni continue to apply the knowledge and leadership gained through U.S. exchange programs to address local development priorities. By equipping young people with workforce skills in entrepreneurship, trade, technology, and investment readiness, “Empowering Balochistan’s Youth: Bridging Workforce Skills with Trade, Technology and Entrepreneurship” is helping prepare the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs while contributing to economic opportunity and sustainable development in Balochistan.
