PTI finalises a revamped version of PML-N’s youth loan scheme

ISLAMABAD: The Imran Khan led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has decided to launch a revamped version of the Prime Minister’s youth loan scheme, initiated by the previous PML-N led government, under the banner Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan programme in an effort to create 2 million jobs through small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Under the programme, the incumbent government will disburse Rs200 billion and will provide a subsidy of Rs24 billion over the next five years by not charging any interest on the loans.

The Prime Minister’s Youth Business Loan Scheme which was initiated by the previous administration of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), will cease to exist after Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan programme’s launch.

It was learned that Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered a committee to be formed compromising of Federal Minister for Communications Murad Saeed, Adviser to prime minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and Special Assistant to prime minister on Youth Affairs Muhammad Usman Dar to finalise the loan programme.

In order to fine-tune and develop the programme, various meetings have also been held by government officials also held meetings with officers of the State Bank of Pakistan, National Bank of Pakistan, The Bank of Punjab and the Bank of Khyber.

Previously the loan programme was also discussed in a meeting held on February 12, 2019, of the Finance Ministry chaired by the then finance minister Asad Umar.

Loans will be distributed in three tiers. Under tier-1, loans of up to Rs0.5 million will be provided, under tier-2 loans will range from Rs0.5 million to Rs10 million and under tier-3 loans will range from Rs10 million to Rs25 million.

Meanwhile, in the tier-1, credit will be considered as clean lending with an only personal guarantee of the borrower while in the tier-2 and tier-3, banks may follow their own credit policy. Moreover, the scheme is aimed at unemployed people in the age bracket of 21-45 years to meet the government’s target of creating 2 million jobs through the SME sector as approved by the premier under the National Financial Inclusion Strategy.