Karachi: Seventy-seven entrepreneurs from various sectors, including many women-led businesses, attended an orientation event to learn about applying for business grants ranging from EUR 11,000 to EUR 200,000.
The event, organized by the EU-funded and UNIDO-implemented Poverty Alleviation & Inclusive Development Across Rural Sindh (PAIDAR) programme, aims to support businesses in creating sustainable jobs and incomes in Sindh, especially for women and youth.
The entrepreneurs will work with Technical Assistance (TA) companies provided by PAIDAR to develop strong business proposals. Sectors represented include solar products, automotive, waste management, construction, food processing, salt mining, retail, biomass processing, telemedicine, rice husking, and e-commerce.
The three TA companies assisting with business planning are Sindh Enterprise Development Fund (SEDF), Empowerment through Creative Integration (ECI), and i-Consult. These companies have extensive expertise to help create solid business proposals.
Badar ul Islam, National Programme Coordinator, welcomed attendees and highlighted the program’s objectives. He emphasized the importance of the technical support from TA companies in helping businesses apply for PAIDAR grants and develop strategic business plans to attract further investment.
Raja Khurram Shahzad Umar, Secretary of the Investment Department, stressed the importance of supporting SMEs for economic growth and praised PAIDAR’s model of sustainable development. Khair Muhammad Kalwar, Secretary of the Planning & Development Department, congratulated UNIDO on implementing PAIDAR in Sindh and expressed government support for the business community.
The event concluded with National Technical Advisor Farooque Ahmed Siddiqui thanking participants and organizers, reiterating the commitment to economic progress in Sindh. The PAIDAR SME Grants are expected to boost local businesses, create jobs, and drive economic growth.
