Poor Quality of Education, the root of all Social illnesses

Educational institutions across the globe require a transformation to boost creativity and innovation in the young minds in general and in the developing worlds particularly. The situation in Pakistan is pathetic to a greater extent. The educational system has failed to cope with the changing needs and dynamics of the teaching-learning requirements of the nation and humanity. At school and colleges, the system never allowed encouraging motivation, creativity, and innovation due to administrative dysfunctional bureaucratic settings. Such dysfunctionality is supplemented by political influences which demand a non-meritorious say in the system.

                                                   

  When young and junior non-professional administrators once start taking care of seniors and professionals infuses a frustration and demoralizes the entire process of affiliation and ownership. Similarly, not only non-meritorious appointments but also ill versioned promotions also derail the dream of quality leaving behind only no professional, Hippocratic and vested interest-oriented minds in the schools and colleges.

The situation across higher education institutions in Pakistan is also worse. More than 5000 PhDs professors are working in these organizations but not even five innovations or creative work are recorded every year. Poor quality of teaching-learning only destroys the young potential minds through making them addicts of Google, Wikipedia and similar stuff copy paste for their assignments and exams. There is no concept of skill assessment and promotion except transforming potential minds rote and CGPA crazy. Institutions only produce certified unskilled labor and not qualified experts.

Higher Education Commission (HEC) must take these quality issues seriously through system changes. It is really damaging that almost all universities do not follow strict meritorious rules. Even appointment and promotion rules are framed to facilitate their blue-eyed people. Similarly, if there are any scratched rules somewhere they are interpreted with nepotism, religious perspective or lingo-racial approach. HEC should make all appointment and promotion rules objectively defined and not subjective. Please save nation and humanity before extreme spoilage and harm. The new generation requires creativity and innovation.

Sustained promotion of tourism can help reduce poverty in Gilgit-Baltistan

Linko International (Pvt.) Ltd

Tourism has been a critical agent of social and economic change around the world. Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) is located in the extreme north of Pakistan. It borders with China in the North-East, India in the East, Afghanistan in the north and west, the rest of Pakistan in the south. Around 2.2 million people carrying different religious and cultural landscapes live together in harmony. Ruminant marks of Buddhism and Hinduism are visible across stone inscriptions and cultural expressions. Old civilizational exchange factor, the Silk route passes through the Rug Mountains of GB. Historical princely states cultural, social and religious archives conserved speak of varied exploratory and military missions of different the then powers.  

Variegated beauty that nature offers in the area is awesome! Outside polar glaciated body, it has the largest glacial mass in the world. It has the highest mountain peaks in the world following Mount Everest. Endless pastures and passes offer great trekking opportunities to interact with unique and endemic wildlife which can never be seen outside GB. Humble, simple and happy faces with a long and rich cultural and history grounded hospitality traditions and values offer peace, serene and appreciation towards new cultures and lifestyles. 

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 Lack of political vision and sustained tourism-friendly the environment in the country has deteriorated the tourism industry. However, the formulation of sensible policies to promote tourism on sustained footings can improve not only the poverty in the country but the GDP of the country too. Gilgit Baltistan offers great opportunities to tap and promote tourism. Sustained tourism can generate around 1000-1200 additional jobs every year in the GB only. This will help the promotion of entrepreneurship and growth in the market sizeable to absorb more people in the sector helping people to learn, enhance skills, professionalism and quality in the service/s rendered.

Promoting ease of doing business guarded by the improved security networking can help tourism to grow to a level where tourism can be one of the major pillars to help societies develop, achieve prosperity and sustained development. GB offers an unlimited wealth of natural beauty around the valleys, cultural and civilizational heritage, mountaineering, trekking, hospitality, climate and glaciology, import-export, etc. according to Imran Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan is more beautiful than Switzerland and any other part of the world. The only missing thing in the way making tourism more attractive is improved security network, promotion, and safeguarding of businesses by the government and public awareness and sensitization.

Linko International (www.linkointernational.com) is working on manpower supplies to almost all hotels and guesthouses across Gilgit-Baltistan. Keeping in view the growing opportunities and potential to scale-up requires more professional engagement. We offer a range of services of investors to facilitate the with various documentations related to real-estate, leasing, market surveys, marketing of products and  services, proposal development, negotiation facilitation with the government and the communities etc.  we are looking for governmental supervision and support besides connecting potential investors to bring in and to impact on poverty and promoting the tourism industry by offering varied facilitative services to the entrepreneurs, investors, and visitors effectively. Interested candidates, investors and tourists can call to get any information for free. Gilgit Baltistan is tax-free zone in Pakistan also investments are secure and more profit-making.

Linko International (Pvt.) Ltd.

www.linkointernational.com, ceo@linkointernational.com

0092 5811 455306

Exploration of mines and minerals from Gilgit-Baltistan to improve GDP

Pakistan is suffering from economic crisis due to lack of country and its wider benefit oriented will among the pseudo-political factions and the central governments continuously impacted and lead the country over the last more than 60 years consecutively. Locating in the most suitable geopolitical and natural zone, the country has unlimited natural resources which could have been explored scientifically and managed effectively to making a stronger, healthier, prosperous and technologically advanced country. Vested interest oriented myopic so call political leadership misused their powers influencing all state organizations leaving them behind in all walks of life. People remind unskilled, uneducated and ignorant. An Islamic country having unlimited natural resources carries almost highest number of baggers on the roads.

Similarly, Gilgit-Baltistan having huge deposits of metals, non-metals, precious, semi-precious and industrial minerals suffers from poor communication and energy networks. To bring people out of poverty requires seriousness in the central government and pseudo provincial government of Gilgit-Baltistan to frame investor friendly policies which encourage investors and safeguard rights of local populations at the same time. Conflicting situations arising out of lack of meritorious role of mining and mineral department leads to frustration among the investors and infuses sense of insecurity among the communities owning actual these mines.

This is high time to take serious actions starting from policy level and placing working mechanisms to promote scientific exploration of mines and minerals to impact poverty level and improving communication and energy networks. Such a wise exploration will not only improve quality of lives of the communities but also the GDP of the country in a very short period of time. People in the area want to work with the investors but lack of any efficient policy framework and an acceptable working mechanism these huge deposits of metals, non-metals, precious, semi-precious and industrial minerals still requires exploration.

Linko International is facilitating investors from the country and all over the world and communities towards collaborative working in the wider interest of both the parties. Our consultants can conduct geological surveys not only for identification of mineral deposits but their deposit estimations, environmental impact assessments and mapping etc. Gilgit Baltistan is one of the most important spots in the world to invest and making huge profits. Several deposits of different precious and semi-precious stones i.e. Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, Spinal, Aquamarine, Topaz, Tourmaline, Epidote, Moonstone, Zircon, Pargasite, Garnet, Amethyst, Morganite have been identified in administrative districts of Hunza, Skardu, Gilgit, Ghizer and Nager. Similarly, several best quality industrial minerals including marble, granite, china clay and feldspars have also been identified.

Gold extraction has been a traditional part time activity in the region and several families have adopted it as a business and livelihood option. People engaged its extraction from placers use traditional equipment and techniques which are not efficient enough. However, application of modern tools and techniques at larger scale can give thousands of kilograms of Gold annually.  District of Hunza is well known for Gold extraction. However, this can be ranged well beyond the district Hunza. Besides, Gold, there are other important minerals i.e. Copper, Zinc, Platinum, Cobalt, Palladium, Iron, Molybdenum, Antimony, Nickle, Arsenic etc.

Gilgit-Baltistan offers great opportunities for investment and business as there is no governmental tax imposition in the area. Besides, no taxes, cost of electricity is far lesser then rest of the country. Basic lapidary services are improving day by day in the area. Linko International Private Limited is the only professional organization offering a range of services to help investors under one roof making one-stop solutions.

Linko International (Pvt.) Ltd.

WORKFORCE SUPPLY

Keywords: Workforce, Janitorial staff, Third party contract, effective workers, Hiring, employees

Private and public sector organizations serious in their vision and mission require efficient teamwork and effective workforce. mostly such fast growing companies and organizations hire most suitable candidates carrying relevant qualifications and skills to accomplish varied tasks. They prefer contractual employees rather than permanent. Workforce supply has become one of the important sectors in almost every country. Principle of third-party contract has become more pronounced as to avoid undesirable expenditure, wastage of resources, legal bindings and unionization leading to politicization. Which hamper organizational progress and efficiency towards their mission and economic benefits. Third party contracts usually provide easy ways of achieving their targets more efficiently and effectively as compared to hiring of permanent employees. Public sector provides more permanent positions and hence more lethargic behavior among the employees.

linko international job providing company rnation
(www.linkointernational.com)

Corporate sector is growing in Pakistan but needs more attention to professionalize. Growing corporate sector in the country and particularly in Gilgit-Baltistan is unavoidable to atmpact poverty and unemployment. Because of no tax regime in Gilgit-Baltistan different companies and businesses prefer to register in Gilgit-Baltistan and to open their provincial offices and country offices too.

Linko International is the only professional corporate entity working towards workforce supply and capacity building of existing employees of varied organizations to improve their efficiency in their task. Linko has become a voice of youth and all job seekers. In a very short period Linko International has successfully employed more than 450 job seekers and more than 62000 people have visited our website (www.linkointernational.com). We are looking forward to workforce who can contribute into your organizational success and rise.k with more companies and businesses across Pakistan and outside. We are best organization to provide relevant and efficient 

Company Registrations & Allied Services

Linko International believes in bringing ease in the lives of people. Therefore, having a sound understanding of different level of sufferings that people experience during formation of their companies, Linko International started professional company registration services. Company registration are important from various aspects and any experienced person knows how much it is important to legalize your business. In Gilgit-Baltistan, Linko is the only professionally known corporate entity offering this service. Under this service we offer;
i.                     National/Foreign company registrations with Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). SECP is officially mandated to regulate the businesses in the country.
ii.                   Documentation of all necessary types to be filled during and after company is registered.
iii.                  Financial audit and related services.
Service Charges: Charges are decided after evaluation of task required.
Contact: Interested candidates can contact using our email (ceo@linkointernational.com) or official telephone number 0092 5811 455306 or visit physically (Linko Complex near national Bank of Pakistan Jutial Branch, Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan).
Key Words: Business registration, company registrations, company documentations, SECP, Financial audit, Audit, Gilgit, Baltistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan 

Geology of Mines, Minerals and related Services

Linko offers whole documentation system ranging from mining lease application, documents processing, exploration licensing, geographical and geological mapping, mine and mineral deposit estimation, environmental impact assessment (EIA), surveying, geological assessment for building construction etc.
Service Charges: Charges are decided after evaluation of task required.
Contact: Interested candidates can contact using our email (ceo@linkointernational.com) or official telephone number 0092 5811 455306 or visit physically (Linko Complex near national Bank of Pakistan Jutial Branch, Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan).
Keywords: Geology, Mines, Minerals, Industrial stones, Mining, Survey, geological Survey, Geographical mapping, Geological mapping, Deposit estimations, Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA, Constructions Scientific (Scientific, Socio-economic) and Business SurveysLinko having professional, experienced and highly qualified consultants who can complete various surveys, data collection and enumeration, data processing, data analysis and report generations and their presentations effectively. We can work with different Universities, University students, corporate entities, different entrepreneurs, investors, Civil Society Organizations, Donor Agencies, Non-Government Organizations, for profit organizations etc.
Service Charges: Charges are decided after evaluation of task required.
Contact: Interested candidates can contact using our email (ceo@linkointernational.com) or official telephone number 0092 5811 455306 or visit physically (Linko Complex near national Bank of Pakistan Jutial Branch, Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan).
Keywords: Surveys, Science, Social surveys, Economic Surveys, Business surveys, NGO, CSO, Donor, Universities, Research, Students, Business planning Marketing of Products and ServicesLinko International is the best organization offering professional marketing services for various organizations. Over the last year our outreach has expended enormously. In a very short period more than 60, 000 people have visited our website (www.linkointernational.com). Our Google analytics is growing rapidly. We have a network of more than 222 men and women connected with Linko professionally on commission based. Linko having excellent professional and experienced human resource to motivate local market effectively and efficiently. We are good for online marketing and social media marketing etc.
Service Charges: Charges are decided after evaluation of task required.
Contact: Interested candidates can contact using our email (ceo@linkointernational.com) or official telephone number 0092 5811 455306 or visit physically (Linko Complex near national Bank of Pakistan Jutial Branch, Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan).
Keywords: Product marketing, Service marketing, community mobilization, product launching, consumption survey, Market capture, Niche identification, sale forecasting, online marketing, social media marketing

 Workforce Supply and capacity Building

Building on the acute need of the area, that Gilgit-Baltistan is experiencing a high level of unemployment. Linko International come into play and filled the gap effectively. Over the last one year more than 450 job seekers have been placed effectively across private sector. Lack of skillful education and limited job opportunities majority of the educated and less educated people particularly women suffer from unemployment. This has caused serious implications including deterioration of merit, declining patience, increased level of frustrations and suicides etc.
We work across a variety of private and semipublic organizations and supply efficient human resource of all types including teachers, managers, administrators, security guards, janitorial staff members, marketing personal, accountants, supervisors, mechanics, drivers, nurses, doctors, engineers, surveyors, housemaid, documentation specialists, receptionists, cooks, chefs, waiters etc. We also work for capacity to enhance work efficiency and making people task and result oriented.
Service Charges: Charges are decided after evaluation of task required.
Contact: Interested candidates can contact using our email (ceo@linkointernational.com) or official telephone number 0092 5811 455306 or visit physically (Linko Complex near national Bank of Pakistan Jutial Branch, Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan).
Keywords: Workforce Supply, Third Party Contract, payroll management, Janitorial staff, work efficiency, effective team building, Human Resource sup

Increasing literacy a cofactor of unemployment and suicides in Gilgit-Baltistan

Linko International

www.linkointernational.com

Thousands of years long but established Princely states and other forms of local but traditional governance systems across Gilgit-Baltistan were not only ignorant about the education and its importance but were consciously in opposition of adopting education for their people. In the early years (1835) of 19^th century, Britishers started promoting modern education system in sub-continent of India. Historically, in 1893, Britishers established first ever three primary schools in Gilgit, Astore and Gupis (Ghizir). In 1946 Aga Khan Foundation initiated 17 schools in the region which gave a shift in the overall literacy promotion in the rural societies of Gilgit-Baltistan. Promotion of girls education was not an easy job but the people associated with Aga Khan Education Board have really burnt their oil with a vision to transform societies from acute ignorance to enable to accept change, diversity and pluralism.

Rapidness of change grew over the decades, communication improved gradually, immigration and emigration become faster, agriculture started moving from subsistence level to market oriented and people were experiencing a new age with more opportunities and threats. Young people once only supposed to rear livestock and go into the agriculture fields for agrarian activities were now going to schools. Parents and old aged family members experienced more workload and pressure due to unavailability of workforce required for agriculture. New ways of earnings, jobs, businesses etc. initiated a new paradigm new trends attractive enough to inspire communities to seek hopes for better lives in new approaches.

Now societies started changing and rate of change was growing every decade and year. With gradual universalization and globalization rate of change in the outside world then in the traditional societies of Gilgit-baltistan was quite higher. Net differences were building of capacities of local communities, basic literacy promoting education versus skillful education with creativity and innovation, market requirements and dynamics, traditional tools vs modern intelligent technology etc. School system due to bureaucratic redteppism was not responsive to the change and producing paper oriented degrees continuously.

Now looking from a market perspective, saturation and higher competitions for marks and grades societies are getting confused whether their children need education?  Irresponsive government education ministry and machinery still stuck in promotion of literacy promotion. Schools, colleges and universities do not promote critical and analytical thinking, communication skills, and effective use of modern technology. Educational institutions and government agencies are suffering from myopic thinking, curriculums are not synchronized, books promote outdated information and approaches, no creativity, no innovation, no problem oriented but focus on rot learning and making students’ grade and marks crazy. Annual and semester examinations promote cheating and the government has no vision to change assessment system for students, faculty and administration.

In Gilgit-baltistan, every year a minimum of 2000 students enter into job market but 95% having undergraduate and post graduate degrees in their hands never hold any skill get frustrated from unemployment. A small fraction of them having approaches find nepotized jobs, rather jobs are created with a nepotized vision to accommodate their blue eyed people. This has retarded the working and service efficiency of the government and private sector equally.

Acute frustration and mental pressures among the so called educated and literate people is getting more and more gravity. There is no serious planning on how to improve quality in education so that every graduate is skillful, innovative and create contributing into the development of society. Political governments focus on accommodating their respective party members so students rather than focusing on skill development prefer to become part of corrupted so called vested interest based political parties. In the coming five years would be more serious and critical to rethink over changes in the education sector and transparency in appointments.

Ignorance and ill versioned plans have lead many graduate to become frustrated and several have attempted suicides. Unemployment and lack of skills have become one of major cause of suicides in Gilgit-baltistan.

Linko International Important Historical Services
September 2, 2019

.Human Resources:

Population in Gilgit-Baltistan, a defective province of Pakistan, laying in the extreme north has a higher population growth rate of 2.8% per annum. According to various sensible statistics, area has more than 2 million souls. Higher rate of population incrementation has lead population bulging and increased pressure on the resources. Since the government and Aga Khan Development Network started promoting education in the region has encouraged communities and socialactivities to nurture educational institutions. Now there are thousands of schools, colleges and universities. Every year almost 3-4000 people enter into competition for limited jobs and opportunities. Lack of marketable skills in the hands of qualified people make it hard to find a reasonable job in the private sector or they go underpaid. Public sector has become saturated due to desirable or undesirable job creations and placements nor efficient enough to create more jobs nor encourage private sector to take the burden. According to international independent bodies and government statistics, there is 5-7% unemployment in the country and in Gilgit-Baltistan it is 29%. Out of these 29%, almost 70-80% are female unemployment. In a prevailing situation, frustrations, anxiety, schizophrenia and homicidal attempts which occur in the area are symptoms of an acute imbalance and social fracturedness.             

   There is another problem with the youth and women who are less educated and qualified too i.e. they remain away from needed information and mobilization. Limited trend towards print media, electronic media and undesirable engagement in social media make it difficult to get a job timely. There is no such a platform, mechanism and process to bring them everybody on board and help them to remain within the ambit of information flow.Keeping this serious issue, Linko International was born out of the heart of this problem faced by the women of all ages and youth equally. Linko International is a government registered corporate entity aimed at helping everyone in need of information and taking care of their interest. Over the last one year or so more than 425 people have been placed across private sector entities successfully. Linko International connects job seekers with the people and organizations looking forhiring. More than 80% of reasonable hotels were registered and human resource required is connected, interviewed and placed desirably. Not only they are connected with the job opportunities but also young people looking for internships are also given opportunity at its own office and in other places too.Chief Minister and several other government ministers have appreciated the efforts made by the Linko International but requires some concrete efforts and support to make it more efficient and making it able to operate, inspire and reach out to a wider population and communities. Any prolonged ignorance towards creation of jobs, placements, capacity building and making education skillful will lead to dangerous consequences for youth, government and society at large. Linko International is looking for partnerships to develop an android based software to make it more efficient to reach out to wider outreach of students and job seekers  populations. Such a collaboration and creating such a possibility towards inclusiveness will help releasing frustrations, anxiety and youth engagement in unhealthy activities. It is need of the time.

Linko international:

Social norms and traditional values hold women back from fully participating in economic activities. Social norms and traditional patriarchal systems continue to create a barrier to women’s full participation in economic activities. Often women’s abilities and potential are undervalued and questioned. Women’s networks and associations have the potential to increase women’s self-esteem and their access to a range of services. A serious but continuous awareness campaign towards promotion of women entrepreneurship is unavoidable in the prevailing situations and to impact on the future.

Inadequate access to financial services is another stumbling block for women, despite the success of micro credit organizations across Gilgit-Baltistan. With respect to access to loans from the banking sector, women entrepreneurs identified lack of capital and assets as obstacles.

Inadequate business skills and lack of access to markets also hinder the growth of women’s enterprises. The major obstacles identified by women entrepreneurs include a lack of skills in entrepreneurship and product development, as well as insufficient training, both theoretical and practical, in marketing. Women are less likely to have a business-related education background, which is an important determinant of entrepreneurial success. Improving women’s access to markets can also help expand their business and customer base.

Linko International in collaboration with the government and financial institutions want to start a serious campaign towards promotion of women entrepreneurship supplemented by mobilization and conducting training for potential and interested women. Moreover, through such a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) Linko International will build around marketable entrepreneurial skills with provision of incubation services. Once build on each step successfully, more educated women will be engaged in businesses

A situational analysis of workforce production in Gilgit-Baltistan

Every year on an average almost six thousand men and women graduates enter into labour force. Table 1 shows a breakup of details regarding the institution wise production and their nature of education. According to the UNICEF assessment in Gilgit-Baltistan (2016) there are more than 70, 000 children are still out of schools.

Table 2 shows the sector wise placements annually. Around 4,000 (average 4250) people get jobs within or outside of Gilgit-Baltistan annually. Almost 30 % population of working age remain unemployed every year. Which is quite higher than the rest of Pakistan (5.9 %) (graph 1). Pathetically, almost 70 % of total unemployed individual are female (table 4 and graph 2). This causes economic, social and psychological distresses among the women population. Public sector has already over saturated with political and nepotised placements in the region. In a wider picture, public sector only offers 25 % of job creations annually in the Gilgit-Baltistan (table 3).

Table 1 Showing Estimated students’ population graduating annually from Gilgit-Baltistan

S.No.	Institution producing workforce	Graduating Students’ Population per annum	Reference
1	Karakoram International University (main campus)	1100-1500    [avg. 1300]	Self Est.
2	Karakoram International University (campuses)	400-500         [Avg. 450]	Self Est.
3	Other graduation level colleges in Gilgit-Baltistan	700-1000       [Avg. 850]	Self Est.
4	Student population graduating from rest of Pakistan	1200-1500     [Avg. 1350]	Self Est.
5	Drop out students from Higher Secondary Level	1800-2300     [Avg. 2050]	Self Est.
6	Average per annum jobs required	5200-6800     [Avg. 6000]	Self Est.
	Overall out of school children in GB	70,000-70,000 [2016]	Unicef
	TOTAL [Range, Average]	75,200-76,800 [Avg. 76,000]

Table 2 showing sector wise employment generation annually

Women and Youth Entrepreneurship Development in Gilgit-Baltistan

Project Description

1.       Project Title:                      Women and Youth Entrepreneurship Development in Gilgit-Baltistan

2.       Project Nature:                                 Public Private Partnership

3.       Project scope:                   All administrative districts in Gilgit-Baltistan

4.       Project total cost (Rs.): 3,837,500

5.       Project duration:              12 Months

6.       Partner Organizations:

a.       Social Welfare Department, Government of Gilgit-Baltistan

b.      Linko International Private Limited

Abstract

Educating a woman means educating a family and empowering a woman means empowering society. The literacy rate in Gilgit-Baltistan has increased and on the rise every year. Compared to the overall country unemployment ratio (5.9%), Gilgit-Baltistan has the highest unemployment in the country which is 29.2%. because of the influx of educated men and women entering into the labour market, the unemployment ratio is increasing every year. Out of this 29.2% unemployment, 30% are men and 70% are women. This has put society on fire, anxiety, frustration, nepotism, suicide etc. making it an imbalance schizophrenic society. Every year around 25% is absorbed in the public sector and the rest of them are left for the private sector. In a situation, Linko International has provided a central professional platform for job seekers connecting demand and supply. Over 400 people, youth and women have been placed across private-sector agencies amicably. Out of several reasons of unemployment, lack of skills among the women and youth is a major factor. The proposed project will help not only skilling the youth and women but also giving them employment. Promoting self-employment will help reducing unemployment and burden on the government.

Introduction

On 21 January 2016, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon announced the first-ever High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment to provide leadership and mobilize concrete the action aimed at closing the economic gender gaps that persist around the world. Women’s economic empowerment has been an important agenda for achieving women’s emancipation and equality. Women’s economic empowerment also has benefits for family wellbeing and health. Women with access to economic opportunities have expressed increased self-esteem, dignity, independence, enhanced capacities, and empowerment.

Empowering women is a prerequisite for creating a good nation, when women are empowered, the society with stability is assured. Empowerment of women is essential as their thoughts and their value systems lead to the development of a good family, good society and ultimately a good nation (Kalam, A. 2011). Innovation has no gender line, yet women entrepreneurs often have to work harder and smarter to be recognized in an arena that is still mostly male-dominated. Women have always been drivers behind great successes from time immortal. It is unfortunate that their contributions are not being recognized until now. A strong woman understands that the gift such as logic, decisiveness, and strength are just as feminine as intuition and emotional connection

Educating a woman means educating a family. The role of women in our society has changed and requires a change drastically in the coming years for the better. The gender stereotypes which were more prevalent in society decades ago are breaking slowly. But there is still a long way to go. Women constitute around half the total (49.2 percent) Pakistan’s population but their participation in the economic activities is only 21.6 percent (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, 2009). Out of which about 70 % are engaged in agriculture. Only 2.77 per cent of women are working as self-employed (Sarwar, F., Abbasi, A. S., 2013).

Women bring a different set of perspectives to problem-solving that can enhance the quality of the solution. Women bring a unique set of issues and experiences that can help in decision making enhancing the quality of the decision. The influx of more women into the workforce has led to significant economic growth and productivity. Fewer women have become entrepreneurs, meaning their potential to contribute towards innovation, job creation, and economic growth has been untapped yet.

Women entrepreneurs have a unique tendency to build and maintain long-term relationships. They have more effective communicational, organizational and networking skills than their male counterparts. Moreover, their fiscally conservative approach reduces the risk of failure of their organizations. Women can start new businesses that cater to a totally different market or niche than their male counterparts. Enabling women, particularly as entrepreneurs, benefits future generations because women tend to spend more on their children’s education and health, which should boost productivity as well. Overall, more women entrepreneurs account for improved economic growth and stability within a country.

Women entrepreneurs inspire other women to start businesses. This leads to more job creation for women which ultimately helps in reducing the gender gap in the workforce. When women become successful in a field, the next generation of women is more likely to emulate their success. Narrowing the gender gap in employment will increase global income per person by as much as 20% by 2030 (Burch, T. 2013). Government and Corporate Institutions need to come together to address the gender gap issue in entrepreneurship which can begin a new era of Women-led growth.

In low GDP countries, entrepreneurship can provide a way out of poverty for women faced with few other opportunities. Woman entrepreneurship can lead to tremendous social change, making women financially empowered and independent. That can increase levels of confidence and happiness in women, as the satisfaction of achievement and self-sufficiency can boost their self-esteem and overall well-being. Broadly read stories of successful women will provide encouragement to attract more women to the field and show them the way. In short, if we want a more prosperous and innovative economy, we can’t leave half of our population behind.

Rationale

The Labour Market Assessment Report shows women’s labor force participation rate 15.5 percent in Gilgit-Baltistan compared to 22.2 percent in Pakistan (AKRSP, 2014). The region is dominated by agrarian communities with a large rural population engaged in subsistence agroforestry-livestock-based production on increasingly fragmented landholdings. On the other side, female literacy is increasing every year. Educational institutions are awarding degrees among thousands of female graduates but there are very limited and restricted opportunities for female graduates. More than 70 % of unemployment among the total unemployed graduate populations is female. The same percentages of suicidal cases represent almost 70 % female and less than 30 % are male.

In such a grieved situation, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises are a crucial way of promoting women’s economic empowerment to overcome poverty, unemployment and gender inequity. To take this forward, conducting training on ‘how to initiate enterprises’ supplemented by the business incubation services are important aspects of women empowerment and development.

Many women in several families are the only breadwinners for their families, and also the ‘bread makers’. However, their real entrepreneurial potential remains largely untapped for three principal reasons: social norms and traditional values, inadequate access to financial services, and inadequate business skills and access to markets.

Social norms and traditional values hold women back from fully participating in economic activities. Social norms and traditional patriarchal systems continue to create a barrier to women’s full participation in economic activities. Often women’s abilities and potential are undervalued and questioned. Women’s networks and associations have the potential to increase women’s self-esteem and their access to a range of services. A serious but continuous awareness campaign towards the promotion of women entrepreneurship is unavoidable in the prevailing situations and to impact the future.