British HC lauds young Pakistani entrepreneurs for creativity

Islamabad: During the national finals of the eighth cycle of Enterprise Challenge Pakistan, the country's largest entrepreneurship competition for students under 18, British High Commissioner Jane Marriott CMG OBE on Sunday praised the creativity and perseverance of young Pakistani entrepreneurs.

“Meeting these extraordinary young finalists and hearing their innovative business ideas, and how they are helping their communities, has left me energised and hopeful going into 2025. They are a true credit to Pakistan. I’ve no doubt our paths will cross again as they go onto even bigger innovations,” Ms Marriott told the event she hosted in Islamabad in partnership with King’s Trust International and SEED Ventures. King’s Trust International, established by Britain's King Charles III, operates in 20 countries, offering young people opportunities to build the skills and confidence needed to learn, earn, and succeed. On the other hand, SEED Ventures focuses on supporting social entrepreneurs and amplifying the impact of traditional entrepreneurship.

The top spot in the finals was clinched by Team Eco-EduTech from Daharki, Sindh, with its inspiring business idea that centred on using waste materials to create learning tools for children with disabilities. The concept highlighted the power of inclusion and creativity in addressing real-world challenges, leaving a lasting impression on both judges and attendees.

With Enterprise Challenge Pakistan encouraging students under 18 to create solutions for pressing issues, this year’s competition brought together five finalist teams from various regions of the country, each showcasing unique and impactful start-up ideas. The ideas included Peshawar's Green Sprout Farm–an innovative solution focused on maximising agricultural yields while minimising water and space usage, Multan's Paws on Wheels–a viable business idea revolving around delivering professional pet healthcare services on the doorstep, and Quetta's Nutribites–nutrient-packed gummies offering a convenient alternative to traditional pills and tablets.

Islamabad's Aqua Wave was a portable water purifying bottle ensuring instant access to clean drinking water anytime, anywhere. Prizes were handed out celebrating innovation, climate friendliness, financial viability and impact.

The King’s Trust Global Young Achiever Award Asia 2024 went to Mahnoor for her creative business idea of harnessing fly larvae and food waste to create new sustainable products such as organic chicken feed and powdered chitosan. Mahnoor spoke about the impact the competition had on her personal growth. "Enterprise Challenge Pakistan provided me with skills to establish and run a business. I understood the concept of social enterprises and a sense of giving back to the community.