Muhammad Saleem

Imparting digital skills to young entrepreneurs can spark startup growth in rural communities.

Faiza Bibi, a young entrepreneur from a rural area, told WealthPK that she was deeply worried about the financial condition of her family until a post on TikTok introduced her to the idea of learning digital skills. She spent over a month learning skills to earn money from the comfort of home. Eventually, she selected e-commerce as a path to launch her own small business with a modest investment.

“Now I sell jewellery by displaying it on my social media profiles. I advertise through Facebook, Google, and YouTube to attract customers from remote areas. My friends and clients check my status for new products. Thanks to the digital skills, I can now support my family financially,” she said.

Faiza said when she first talked to her family about starting an online business, they were skeptical, as local people believed in traditional ways of selling. However, after learning digital skills – like how to use social media for sales and how to take attractive photos of products, she started making money and proudly proved to her family that digital selling really works.

“As an introvert, I felt shy of talking to people, but digital training changed that. I learned to communicate with customers online and was often able to convince them to buy my products. It opened up a whole new world for me. I can now sell to people in other cities. This miracle happened in my life due to my e-commerce skills, which truly started a new chapter for me,” Faiza proudly said.

Adnan Masood, a programmer, told WealthPK that digital skills were becoming a powerful lever for growth. “As a programmer, I know that people are earning a handsome income by offering their services both locally and abroad,” he added. He said digital skills training is not just about learning how to operate a computer – it packs a tremendous potential for the people of Pakistan, particularly rural communities, to foster innovation; and ignite entrepreneurship.

Through digital skills, he said, even women in rural areas can support their families financially and contribute a lot to the national economy. “Although our rural communities are largely unfamiliar with digital skills, this is indeed a challenge, but the potential is immense. With concerted effort, we can surely reverse this trend and create a brighter future for all,” he said. Adnan said he had noticed a significant gap in foundational digital literacy.

Many rural residents might have smartphones, but they don’t know how to harness their potential for productive use. He said most people in rural areas use cellphones primarily for basic calls or entertainment purposes. “We have to teach them how to do email marketing, how to use social media to promote products, create engaging content, and understand e-commerce fundamentals like listing products, managing online orders, and understanding payment gateways,” he said.

“All of these skills can quickly turn an idea into reality, enabling people to start earning. Digital skills are the only way to create jobs quickly and with minimal investment,” he claimed. Faiza said with the help of digital skills, the government can strengthen the financial position of rural communities and noticeably reduce poverty. She said it was the government’s responsibility to create opportunities for the rural youth, introduce them to innovation, and help them build strong digital skills.

Bridging this gap, she said, can unlock the massive potential for micro-enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises. “We need to create jobs for the youth and increase household incomes to boost the national economy. It's high time to move beyond subsistence farming towards a more diversified and resilient rural economy,” she added.

Credit: INP-WealthPk