ISLAMABAD: Former Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs, Usman Dar Tuesday briefed the Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Shaukat Tarin about youth-focused development initiatives taken by the government in spheres of education, employment and civic engagement.
During a call on meeting with the minister, Dar highlighted “Kamyab Jawan Program” which offers subsidized loans to young entrepreneurs for self-employment schemes. The program would uplift the youth by offering opportunities to utilize their entrepreneurial potential to the fullest, he added.
Dar also underlined the special measures for the provision of modern education to the youth of the country adding the government had launched a skill development program to impart technical and vocational training to the youth to enhance employment opportunities for them.
The minister lauded the initiatives aimed at facilitating socio-economic empowerment of youth as envisaged by the Prime Minister.
Finance Minister stated that youth plays a pivotal role in the development of the country and highlighted the need to invest in youth and prepare them to meet future challenges effectively.
Earlier, Ms. Sima Kamil, Deputy Governor, State Bank of Pakistan and Syed Samar Hussain, Director State Bank of Pakistan gave a detailed presentation to Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Shaukat Tarin, on “Kamyab Jawan Program” through a videolink.
The Deputy Governor, SBP outlined the salient features of the Program for provision of subsidized business financing. The Program has been developed to provide self-employment opportunities to unemployed youth and contribute towards Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) growth.
The Finance Minister appreciated the rationale and loan disbursement policy of the program and recommended to enhance the outreach by involving microfinance banks and institutions as these institutions have special expertise for catering to those segments of population, which do not have enough collateral to obtain credit.
He directed SBP to workout modalities and present a detailed plan for further deliberations. The Minister also endorsed the idea for providing small loans to the farmers, enabling them to boost agricultural productivity.
The Finance Minister appreciated the ideas for empowering youth and assured his full support and facilitation for the aforesaid projects and initiatives on the occasion.
