University of Bradford supports entrepreneurs in Pakistan
Representatives from the University of Bradford have attended a conference in Pakistan to promote entrepreneurship.
Mark Garratt, Director of External Affairs, led the team that included Ismat Abu Shihab, Regional Director and Mr. Fahd Asif, Regional Manager. They attended Pakistan’s largest Entrepreneurship Conference ‘Lift Pakistan’ which brought together around 20,000 attendees and featured 50 Universities, with dignitaries from diplomatic, corporate, public and private sectors. The Lift conference is organised by JumpStart Pakistan which is a movement that promotes entrepreneurship and development by encouraging and supporting start-up companies.
Prominent Bradford Businessman and Chairman of Jumpstart Pakistan, Amjad Pervaiz said: “I am delighted to have the University of Bradford as a key partner in the LIFT Pakistan conference and thank the University in supporting this very important initiative to support the growth of the enterprise culture in Pakistan.”
Mark Garratt said: “Pakistan is a priority country for us within our international agenda, and I am delighted to be representing the University this week. Over the last many years, hundreds of Pakistani students have chosen to study at Bradford, and we are keen to grow and develop our links with Pakistan.”
During the trip (14-19 November) the group also met with the Federal Minister for Education and the special advisor to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistan as well as several stakeholders from the Higher Education sector. Fahd Asif, Regional Manager said: "It was fantastic to meet with the new Federal Minister for Education Mr. Shafqat Mahmood and also with the Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis Mr. Zulfi Bukhari. We discussed the ambitious human development goals that the new government has and how the University of Bradford could support this vision."
There are long standing links between Bradford and Pakistan, including the current Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, being a former Chancellor at the University. The University will be bringing a high profile delegation to Pakistan in February 2019 led by Vice Chancellor Brian Cantor.