A Business Concept, Dont Give Them Fish - 2

Searching about my university, NED University of Engineering & Technology, I came across an article which was about a candidate from NED who participated in the “Karo Mumkin” competition organized by a telecom company telenor. The concept of this program was to give creative ideas which can bring a change in the lives of the people. A large number of people participated in the competition and give creative ideas, which were later uploaded on the contest website, the top ten entries were displayed which were selected by the internet poll voting.

The winner was the contestant from NED Abdul Haq Mohiuddin, the concept defined in website as:

“Abdul Haq Mohiuddin, a graduate of NED university dreams to see an educated Pakistan. This prompted him to come up with idea of each graduating student of NED giving Rs. 100 to help an under privileged child in his education. Each graduating batch of NED and if replicated by other universities would be able to donate enough money to eradicate illiteracy from Pakistan.”

Every graduate from the university after getting job will donate Rs. 100 from his salary to a fund. At least 1600 engineers pass out from NED every year, the monthly donation of Rs. 100 from each will bring about Rs. 160,000 to the fund and this fund will be used in the education of children of underprivileged areas this will bring the literacy rate up. No wonder this was a great idea, that’s why it won the first prize, the winner was selected through internet polling.

Don’t give them fish butt tell them how to fish!

You might come across my article on this topic, about the government giving funds to the people, but not giving them opportunity to earn, which is enhancing their begging skills, but not develop then as a creator/entrepreneur. Blending the Abdul Haque’s idea and the-don’t-give-them-fish idea; I have created a new idea described as follows:

What if the graduates will combine Rs. 100 each and will open a joint stock engineering firm, the initial investment will be then Rs. 160,000, the objective of the company is that it will be able to generate each person about at least Rs. 500 per month revenue in the future, some proportion of the revenue generated from the business can be invested back and can be used to generate more business, also the 1600 people can provide facility in some parts of the organization for its betterment in the production, sales, marketing, research and development, administration. This will create more job opportunities as well. Similarly if the same initiative can be done by the students of other universities, thus hundreds of new businesses can be started, which will bring more revenue to the country, more job opportunities, more business and prosperity. This might be a long term planning but will be equally helpful to overcome the economic crisis of Pakistan and increasing the per capita income.

More elaboration, the initial revenue of Rs. 500 is expected to increase approximately to 500 rupees each month, thus it will reach Rs. 10,000 in about 20 months (1.6 year). In about 20 months an investor will be making an income of 10,000 still growing each month by Rs.500. this is because the initial investment of Rs. 100 per share holder will not stop in the first month but the investor will be investing Rs.100 each month which means a total investment of about Rs. 160,000 every month to the business.

The investment revenues hypothetical graph for the first 20 months

If you have any suggestion, comments, clarification, if you just hate or love this idea, feel free to communicate. Thanks

Syed Owais Mukhtar

Don’t give them fish, but teach them fishing!

If you have one rupee and a beggar in front of you, what will be the best use of that rupee? Well, some of you might think that the best use of money is to give it to the beggar so that he can eat something. But in actual the most constructive use of that rupee is to buy stuff for the beggar so that he may sell to make his earning, don't make more beggars or strengthen the habit of a beggar, but make him do work!
Don't give them fish, but Help them how to fish!
We have in front of us the example of our Holy Prophet, when a poor person met him and asked for help, Prophet asked him what he have, the man have a bowl and some household stuff, the Prophet hold both things in the crowd and ask them who will buy it, a person stood who bought the stuff and in exchange Holy Prophet bought an Axe for the man. He told the man to go to forest, cut and sell wood. A few times later the man came back and this time he was earning and was covering his expanses by himself.
Yesterday I saw a news headline in which the Government was going to distribute cash to some families, and they are proudly saying that they have distributed the certain amount and the remaining amount will be given shortly. Same thing we observed in the days of flood and the era after that. It seems like the government is giving them fish, instead of helping them how to fish.
The project might be more beneficial if the government might introduce an entrepreneur scheme in which the needy should be given microfinance credits as well as training to them how to set up a business. If it is done, it will not only help them in meeting their daily requirements, but will also increase their self-confidence, plus it will enhance the country economy. The economy goes up by more businessmen rather than by more beggars.
But, despite that the government is doing what they themselves do. The government itself is a beggar to the IMF and European nations, how can you expect someone who is begging himself do the opposite way.
The time has come for Pakistan to stand on its own feet, and this can only be done when an honest leadership will be elected. An honest and religious leadership is only capable of raising the standards of living of the people of Pakistan "not by donating them", but giving them what it takes to start their own way of earning.
Only then we will be able to say "We Are Alive Nation".

By: Syed Owais Mukhtar