Daily Times

Business entrepreneurship is encouraged in technological advance societies, but it is highly discouraged, generally in the developing world and particularly in Pakistan. Starting from Bill Gates to Warren Buffett, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and every entrepreneur becomes an icon in their country of origin initially and then a symbol of success in the world. However, it is highly difficult to acknowledge business entrepreneurship in Pakistan. This kind of sceptical approach discourages the people, particularly the young generation, from becoming “energy stars” who can inspire others. Thus, we have very low-level business entrepreneurship in the country and social entrepreneurship is also very limited. Still, we have some people, who contributed significantly as business entrepreneurs in the country. Take the example of Mr Taseer. He was a pioneer in launching a private telecommunication business, WorldCall. This was a first-ever private wireless service provider in Pakistan, which no one had imagined in any developing country. This was a unique business idea in the country: to have private wireless telecommunication serving those communities that never imagined being connected with the world. It gave an idea of a new lifestyle with unique telecommunication features. The WorldCall service empowered the marginalised and remote customers in the highly disadvantaged places of the urban slums. Since connectivity with people brings social capital, therefore, it empowers the people to excel in their lives. Those people may later uplift themselves and pursue the ladder of the upward social mobility in their society.

The second contribution of Mr Taseer and his family was Pace Shopping Mall in Lahore. Although the shopping mall culture had emerged in Europe and North America decades ago, but in Pakistan, it was the first kind of business entrepreneurship. It gave space to a new shopping model in the country. A new sector of this business started by following the Pace model initially in Lahore and then other parts of the country. Now, we see hundreds of shopping malls across the country.

The third entrepreneurship was in the media industry. This industry was predominantly occupied by those media houses with a pure capitalist approach and profit maximisation. However, Mr Taseer launched Business Plus and Daily Times with a new business model called “social entrepreneurship.

Daily Time picked up new talent and promoted genuine, intellectual debates in the country

Daily Times particularly gave space to new vistas of opportunities to new writers and intellectuals to emerge and demonstrate their capabilities; show their qualities and demonstrate their worth. Those who wanted to contribute in the leading newspapers of the country, but never got a chance to write and contribute to the intellectual debates. Daily Time picked up this new talent and promoted genuine intellectual debates in the country. An interesting and significant contribution was to highlight the oppressed class. Their miseries and their silent voices became loud and clear through this media group. Those who were never heard or had access to the power corridors; this media entrepreneurship gave space to them, empowered them and gave access to be heard and listened. It highlighted the sane voices of the weak segment of society. The marginalised and discriminated class got hope, courage and space through this media contribution. It challenged the status quo in the country. It also challenged the traditional media hegemony and monopoly through open and people-friendly policy.

It is essential to accept the role of the business entrepreneurship in Pakistan and recognise the contribution of those who gave their maximum energy and put their efforts to improve the miserable condition of society. Taseer was an example but we can find other local business entrepreneurs who are giving their maximum to this society. They could have spent a luxurious life abroad, but they chose to contribute to their society. They brought new ideas of business entrepreneurship, gave employment and bear the risks in the society. Especially, the role of those social entrepreneurs may be acknowledged. The Government of Pakistan should promote social entrepreneurship to uplift the people from poverty, unemployment and miserable conditions. This social entrepreneurship may give a new begging of life to the young people of the country.

The writer is Chairman of Department of Sociology at Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad