Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan Margaret Adamson on Friday hosted a reception for 27 Pakistanis who have been granted scholarships. The students will shortly depart to Australia to undertake short courses in entrepreneurship and energy security in Pakistan and the region, said a press release issued on Friday. The courses aim to build capacity in innovation and entrepreneurship in Pakistan’s public and private sectors to strengthen Pakistan’s energy security though cross-border collaboration. “Innovation and entrepreneurship are playing an increasingly important role in economic growth and job creation in Pakistan,” Adamson said. “We are glad to support Pakistan’s innovation trajectory, through training in Australia’s world-class business institutions, while the courses in energy management will help Pakistan harness the energy and hydropower potential of the Himalayas to enhance energy security, regional cooperation and trade,” she said. The high commissioner said that some of the courses would have a special focus on increasing women’s participation in the public and private sectors to facilitate economic growth, which was a core policy priority for Australia. Half of the scholarships have been awarded to women. Twenty of the students will participate in a four-week course in Business Incubation Management at the University of Queensland, Australia, and seven others will participate in a regional short course on ‘Supporting Energy Security in South Asia – Strengthening Cross Border Energy Arrangements’ at the Australian National University, Canberra.