RAWALPINDI: A Business Innovation Technology Centre (BITC) was opened at the Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi on Thursday to promote business related products and services developed by students, aiming to provide them with self-employment opportunities.

The centre was established at the University Institute of Management Sciences (UIMS) at the university and was inaugurated by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Niaz Ahmed. The inauguration ceremony was attended by deans, directors, faculty members and students of the university.

BITC will serve as a forum for students to develop contacts with people in the business sector and will also extend financial support for establishing small businesses.

Project management students displayed products and services they had developed including a washing machine running on power generated from a bicycle, a solar bag that charges electronic devices, Piezoelectricity generated from tiles, battery heated jackets, recycled handicrafts, furniture made from discarded tyres, an ammunition detection system for vehicles that also immobilises a car by deflating its tyres and innovative packaging for bakery items.

The university’s vice chancellor, Dr Ahmed encouraged students to keep on working towards starting their own businesses which, he said, will also bring employment to others.

He said students will be provided with everything they needed to develop their products and services and suggested that students and teachers of the Management Science department connect with their counterparts in other departments of the university to develop new agro-based products and services.

Director UIMS Dr Farida Faisal appreciated the efforts of teachers at the Project Management department for making the Business Innovation Centre a reality.

She said BITC was established to help students become employers instead of seeking employment elsewhere and announced the launch of a Masters Degree program in Project Management within a year.

A faculty member of the Project Management department, Ms Nighat, said some of the products on display could do well if introduced in local markets, and even abroad.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2016