ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Youth Programme is in process of developing a web portal to compile beneficiaries’ data and facilitate applicants through provision of comprehensive information and impact about its six schemes.
Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Chairperson Leila Khan Sunday said it would be the first of its kind portal providing single window for eligible youth to access information and make applications online.
In an exclusive talk with APP here, she said, the portal would also help in collecting overall data, adjudging impact of PM youth schemes and making future strategies for improved and better results.
Ms Leila Khan said federal government was running six schemes under Prime Minister’s Youth Programme which included PM Youth Business Loans Scheme, PM Interest Free Loan Scheme, PM Youth Skill Development Programme, PM Youth Laptop Scheme, PM Fee Reimbursement Scheme and PM Youth Training Scheme.
She explained under PM Youth Business Loans Scheme more than 6,500 business loans worth Rs. 6 billion have been disbursed among potential entrepreneurs aged 21-45 years across the country whereas under Prime Minister’s Interest Free Loan Scheme around 100,000 loans worth more than Rs. 2 billion have been granted to poorest of the poor people in 44 under developed districts across Pakistan.
Leila Khan said the government was sincere in its efforts to fulfil its promise which it made to the youth with regard to assist them financially and the government had decided to involve the private banks in the PM youth loan scheme.
Replying to a question regarding disbursement of loans among beneficiaries, Leila Khan said the government could not force or dictate bank management on this matter.
“The bank management has been given free hand for granting loan to the applicants after verifying all requirements needed for the purpose,” she commented. She said the recovery percentage for PM Youth Business Loans Scheme is more than 94 and 100 for PM Interest Free Loan Scheme which shows success of these schemes.
Leila Khan explained PM Youth Business Loan Scheme has been focused on promoting SME sector which offers most viable option for private sector-led growth that reduces poverty and creates a large number of jobs.
The beneficiaries of this scheme would become tax payers, their businesses will create jobs, and they will be able to improve their living standards, the Chairperson added. Moreover, the Chairperson said out of the 100,000 Interest Free Loan beneficiaries, around 25,000 are those who had a poverty score of less than 16.17 and were BISP beneficiaries. They had obtained PM Interest Free Loan in order to become self-sustainable and start earning their livelihood.
