Sukkur IBA University (SIBAU) Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and Incubation (CEL&Inc.) launched a detailed study in 2014 to identify the reasons for the youth unemployment in Sindh particularly in northern part of the Sindh Province.
The study focused on primary and secondary data analysis which found that 50% of the youth are unemployed in Sindh province and only 8% are self-employed with a high degree of gender disparity where female inactivity stands at 91.2%.
The district wise situation was even worse than compared to Karachi and Hyderabad. Whereas, The district Dadu & Jacobabad were among most backward districts of Sindh due to the low level of literacy rate, quality education, low level of income, unemployment, lack of quality skills, rural backwardness, tribal system and inequality scenario for women.
The study further found that these factors substantively triggered the social-economic inequality among the youth and women of the districts.
We further found that though youth has completed their basic education and many completed their vocational trainings but are even not compatible to be employed.
In our personal visits and group discussions, we found that though youth received basic education and vocational skills even can not be employed due to the quality of education and poor vocational training.
It was even surprised to note that those who received vocational training can not start their work due to the lack of quality skills.
It was obvious that the youth trained on different vocational skills does not require by the industry due to the emergence and up-gradation in the industry with adoption of technology.
The visionary Vice Chancellor Prof. Nisar Ahmed Siddiqui who always focused on community development has entrusted an assignment to the CEL&Inc. for youth development and employment.
The team CEL&Inc. initiated planning for the employment of the youth and came up with three suggestions.
First, to start modern and industry oriented short skill courses, second develop the youth's basic skills of English, mathematics and computer so that we can fill the gap of their education and make them fit to pass the tests of public and private sector for employment and
third to equip youth with entrepreneurial skills at the end of course so that they can start their own micro start-ups in their communities rather to depend and wait for the jobs.
The program was also embedded with stipend, free books, accommodation, transportation, tool-kits to start micro start-ups and an free space opportunity for startups.
Under this program CEL&Inc. developed multiple proposals for the youth development and engagement and forwarded to the Community Development Program, Government of Sindh, Higher Education Commission (HEC), BBSYDP, NAVTTC, Government of Pakaistan and GiZ.
These organizations gave overwhelming response to the model of the Necessity Entrepreneurship Development Program and fund different projects from 2015 to current.
These joint initiatives resulted into high impact on unemployed youth of the region. Specifically result was achieved in the three important areas one, selected youth got an exposure and continued their studies into next level second, they were easily employed by the public and private sector with higher salaries third,
they started their micro start-ups in their respective areas of expertise in their communities and at our business incubators.
