ISLAMABAD: Planning Minister Asad Umar said on Monday that the youth, being the asset of the country, would be fully encouraged to start their businesses.
Addressing the soft launching of Startup Pakistan Programme in Islamabad, he said the initiative would help create jobs and enhance economic activities in the country in an inclusive, scalable and sustainable way. “One million students will be trained through 10,000 startup programmes by 2023,” he added.
Asad Umar noted that jobs around the world were being created through small entrepreneurship and that Pakistan would also achieve success by following international practices.
He said the youth should adopt “think big, start small” approach for success.
Speaking on the occasion, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Usman Dar said that the programme would make the trainees “job providers” and not “seekers”.
“This programme offers funding, mentorship, training, and a variety of perks and benefits aimed at the provision of facilities to entrepreneurs,” he added.
He informed that one million youth applied for loans under the Kamyaab Jawan Programme during the first 15 days of the launch. Of these, he added, about 600,000 were those who wanted to start a new business.
“The programme is also unique as about 200,000 females also applied for the loan,” he stated. “The prime minister will soon distribute cheques among the applicants.”
Usman Dar said the government was also introducing skill and internship programmes to enable the youth stand on their feet. He said job opportunities would be created both in the government as well as private sectors.
