An 11-week Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN) Grant has concluded in Multan, PUAN South Punjab Chapter after equipping approximately 30 young participants with practical skills in e-commerce, graphic design, digital tools, and online business development, helping them explore new pathways to professional and income-generating opportunities in the digital economy.
The “NextGen Global E-Commerce – Multan 2026” project was led by Arbish Shahid, an alumna of the English Access Microscholarship Program (2015–2017) and member of the PUAN South Punjab Chapter. The grant was implemented under the PUAN theme “Workforce Readiness for Trade, Technology & Investment.”
Designed to connect workforce development with opportunities in international digital commerce, the project trained participants in skills relevant to building Etsy storefronts and developing freelance graphic design careers serving international clients, including the U.S. market.
Over the course of the program, participants received hands-on training and mentorship focused on e-commerce, digital design, online storefront development, and the use of modern AI tools in digital workflows. The project also introduced participants to aspects of operating within U.S.-based commercial ecosystems, including Etsy seller standards, intellectual property and trademark considerations, payment infrastructure, and communication practices for working with international clients.
For Shahid, the project drew on her own experience at the intersection of technology, creativity, and e-commerce. With a background in information technology and full-stack development, she also operates e-commerce businesses on Etsy and eBay. Through the PUAN Grant, she brought that practical experience into a structured learning opportunity for young people in Multan seeking to develop market-relevant digital skills.
From Training to First Sales
As the project concluded, participants reflected on the skills they had developed and how they were beginning to apply them beyond the training.
Two participants shared early examples of turning their newly developed skills into actual sales. After applying what they learned during the project to create their own T-shirt designs, one participant generated eight sales and another generated four sales within a single week.
These early results provided tangible examples of participants moving from learning digital skills to testing products in the marketplace and generating income from their work.
The experience also demonstrated the practical connection between digital design, e-commerce platforms, and entrepreneurship. Rather than learning these skills only in theory, participants were encouraged to develop products, understand online marketplaces, and explore how creative and technical capabilities can be converted into commercial opportunities.
Building Skills for Digital Trade
The project was designed around the growing role of digital platforms in connecting professionals and entrepreneurs with customers beyond their local markets.
Participants explored how Etsy storefronts, freelance design services, AI-enabled workflows, and other digital tools can help individuals develop marketable skills and engage with international clients and consumers.
This approach directly supported the grant’s workforce-readiness objective: preparing participants with practical capabilities relevant to technology, entrepreneurship, digital trade, and changing market demand.
The project also introduced participants to U.S. commercial practices and platforms, helping them better understand the standards, communication approaches, and digital ecosystems involved in serving international markets.
At the project’s closing, approximately 30 members of the cohort gathered where the grantee and trainers reflected on the project journey and participants shared their experiences applying the skills developed during the program.
