In collaboration with IB&M, the National Institute of Banking and Finance (NIBAF), the training arm of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), organized an Awareness Program for university students on Entrepreneurship Skills Development at UET Lahore on February 15, 2024. Mr. Gulzar Khan, Joint Director of SBP, was the esteemed speaker for the day. The worthy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Nasir Hayat, and respected Dean (Faculty of Natural Sciences, Humanities & Islamic Studies), Prof. Dr. Shahid Rafique, graced the occasion and presented a souvenir to the distinguished speaker, Mr. Gulzar. The session broadly covered the following areas:

• SBP's role in development finance, especially in SME banking
  SBP/Government schemes for SMEs and startups
• SME Refinance & Credit Guarantee Schemes
  Special Refinance and Credit Guarantee Scheme for Women Entrepreneurs
  Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (YES)
  Other schemes for the development of the SME sector
• Financial products & services offered by banks to existing SMEs and new business entrants.
  Entrepreneurship development: availability of opportunities for new entrepreneurs and the need for skills acquisition and knowledge building.