The first Marui Girls Hostel Entrepreneurship Mela was organised by the Office of the Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) of the University of Sindh, in collaboration with the Bureau of STAGS, at the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Chair and Convention Centre. The event was inaugurated by Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Fateh Muhammad Marri (TI).

Director ORIC and Provost Marui Girls Hostel Dr Farhat Naureen, Director Bureau of STAGS Ajved Ahmed Bhatti and Director Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Chair and Convention Centre Dr Rehana Mallah were also present at the inauguration.

Various stalls offering traditional food, fruit chaat, finger chips, biryani, tea, cold drinks and water, fresh organic juices, coffee, sherbets, handicrafts, clothes, electrical appliances, embroidered garments, books, jewellery, makeup products and other items at discounted prices were set up by female students residing at Marui Girls Hostel.

A large number of University of Sindh students attended the one-day entrepreneurship mela, aimed at enhancing business skills, and purchased food items and other products from the stalls.

After the inauguration, Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Fateh Muhammad Marri visited all the stalls, took an interest in the items displayed there and appreciated the efforts of the female students, encouraging them.

Speaking on the occasion, the Vice Chancellor said that such melas provided students with opportunities to showcase their abilities and helped build their self-confidence. He said the university was making efforts to provide students residing in hostels with better residential facilities, as well as maximum facilities and opportunities for sports and other co-curricular activities, so that they could enjoy themselves while also showcasing their abilities.

He said the hard work, interest and skill demonstrated by the female students residing at Marui Girls Hostel in setting up stalls for the mela showed that they possessed excellent entrepreneurial abilities and only needed guidance and opportunities.

The Vice Chancellor said such melas not only developed sound business thinking among students but also gave them practical experience in preparing products, displaying them for sale, earning profits from them and interacting with customers. They also learned how to introduce products in the market and make them better than those offered by others. This, he said, helped boost their confidence.

The Vice Chancellor appreciated the joint efforts of the directors of ORIC and the Bureau of STAGS and expressed the hope that the mela would play an important role in enhancing students’ entrepreneurial skills, interest and self-confidence.

On the occasion, Director ORIC and Provost Marui Girls Hostel Dr Farhat Naureen and Director Bureau of STAGS Ajved Ahmed Bhatti briefed the Vice Chancellor about the stalls set up at the mela and thanked him for attending and encouraging the students.

Dean, Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration, Professor Dr Jawed Ahmed Chandio, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Dr Nanik Ram, Dean, Faculty of Law, Dr Sardar Ali Shah , Director, Institute of Sindhology, Dr Fayaz Latif, Provost Boys Hostels Dr Panhal Lashari, Chairman, Sindh University Colony, Dr Mazhar Ali Abbasi, Manager ORIC Syed Akbar Ali Shah, heads of various departments, faculty members Dr Muhammad Hassan Agheem, Dr Asghar Ali Dahar Hakro, Dr Muhammad Younis Laghari, Dr Baradi Waryani, Dr Ambreen Zeb Khaskheli and others also attended the event.