IBA CED International Entrepreneurship Summer School (IESS) 2016
By Dr. Najam A. Anjum, Assistant Professor, IBA Karachi.
As the cliché goes, ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’. The Centre for
Entrepreneurial Development (CED) in the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, recently took this step towards the journey of rectifying the tarnished image of Pakistan, highlighting the positives of this beautiful country in the international media, and bringing international students to
Pakistani institutions.
The International Entrepreneurship Summer School (IESS), organized between the dates of August 9th and August 25th 2016 in IBA Karachi was an effort aimed at exposing the international students to the undiscovered side of Pakistan which is in stark contrast to what they come across by staying away from it. IESS was a 17-day program consisting of lectures, workshops, study tours, and recreational visits to areas in Karachi, Islamabad, Murree, and Lahore. In addition to Pakistani students, international
Domestic and international participants at IBA Centre for Entrepreneurial Development, Karachi students from Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Sudan, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and Iran took part in
IESS. It was the first time that people as far as Central Europe have come to take a paid course in a
Pakistani institution.
The main objectives of this program were to make available international level entrepreneurship education in Pakistan, to showcase the unique and excellent Social Entrepreneurship infrastructure of
Pakistan, and to reveal its diverse and exquisite landscape thus paving the way towards making it a must-visit tourist destination in the future. The first objective was met by arranging top class faculty from different parts of the World. The lectures were, therefore, delivered by experts from USA, UK,
Germany, Holland, Singapore, Qatar, and Pakistan. The second objective was fulfilled through field visits to several charity organizations including the Indus Hospital and Manzil Foundation in Karachi and
Akhuwat microfinance institute in Lahore. Apart from these, the efforts of Edhi and other prestigious names were highlighted during lectures and other field visits.
Domestic and International faculty including (L-R) Peter Scott (USA), Dr. Shahid (Pak), Dr. Manfred (Germany), Sanjeev Gathani (Singapore), Josette (Holland), Dr. Saadat (UK), Dr. Khurram (Qatar)
Visit of Manzil foundation and Indus hospital in Karachi, and Akhuwat in Lahore
The third objective was achieved by exposing the international students to diverse landscape of Pakistan which starts from serene sea shores in the South, historical buildings in the center, and majestic mountains in the North.
The program consisted of around 48 hours of lectures and several recreational and study visits of different places in Karachi, Islamabad, Nathiagali, Abbottabad, Taxila, and Lahore. During their stay, the international students also took part in the flag hoisting ceremony on 14th of August.
In Karachi the visits started from Quaid’s Mausoleum where a wreath of flowers was laid by international students and fatiha khwani was done by the official imam. The visitors visited the museum housing Quaid’s cars and other belongings. Other places that were visited in Karachi included the Frere
Hall, the Mohatta Palace, and Port Grand.
Once the classes were over the troupe flew to Islamabad where the usual tourist destinations were covered including the Pakistan Monument, Faisal Mosque, and Lake View Park. Hiking on trail 3 was also
Tours in Karachi also included wreath laying at the Quaid’s mausoleum
Visitors enjoyed all types of Pakistani food including Seekh Kabab, Biryani, and Pan arranged on one of the mornings and the visitors were amazed to see the stunning views of Islamabad from the top. These views were also witnessed after the Sunset while having dinner at Munal on one of the nights.
The next destination after Islamabad was Murree and Nathiagali. The picturesque pipeline trail in Dunga
Gali was trekked where the visitors also enjoyed the famous Patakha Chicken during a very desi style lunch in one of the street hotels.
Visitors at Pakistan Monument, Shahadra, and Faisal Mosque
A walk in Donga Gali and the visit of Taxila Museum
On the way to Lahore via motorway, Taxila Museum was also briefly explored. The disciplined traffic and organized affairs at the Motorway were a surprise for the international students after seeing the chaotic and noisy streets of other major cities.
In Lahore, the visit to Akhuwat foundation proved to be very inspirational for international students.
They were amazed by the sheer motivation and commitment of people involved in various microfinance and educational activities being conducted by this charity organization. The recreational visits included the tours to Badhshahi mosque, Shalamar Gardens, the Royal Bath, and the exhilarating Wagah border.
Visits to Anarkali, Badshahi Masjid, Shalamar Bagh, Shahi Hammam, and Wagah Border The witnessing of the flag lowering ceremony proved to be the cherry on the cake and made this visit for international students a remarkable and memorable experience.
Among all the cities, international students liked Lahore the most due to the beauty of its old Mughal infrastructure. Karachi was commented to be the ‘real Pakistan’ while Islamabad was branded as very beautiful but at the same time ‘too clean’ and ‘slightly artificial’.
Activities like these should be initiated by all types of Pakistani institutions and organizations within their capacity in order to increase the international role of Pakistan and to break the shackles of isolation in which we as a nation exist. This summer school was a proof that Pakistan is a safe country to travel and this assurance paves the way towards more international inclusion of Pakistan including international cricket.