PM NAWAZ SHARIF YOUTH PROGRAM
Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif has announced launching of six schemes for welfare of youth with initial allocations of twenty billion rupees. In his address to the nation on Saturday evening‚ PM Nawaz Sharif said these program’s are aimed at creating self-employment opportunities for youth and are in fulfillment of its election manifesto. He said the micro-interest free loan scheme is targeted at disadvantaged sections of the society and will benefit two hundred and fifty thousand people. An allocation of 3.5 billion rupees has been made during the current financial year. The Small Business Loan Scheme has been designed for unemployed‚ especially educated youth to enable them to start their own businesses. Under the scheme loans ranging from five hundred thousand to two million rupees would be advanced to youth at concessionary mark up rate of eight percent and the remaining burden of the mark up would be borne by the government. Fifty percent loans would be given to women and initially these loans would be advanced by National Bank of Pakistan and First Women Bank. Five billion rupees have been allocated for the scheme. Nawaz stated under Youth Training Scheme those completing sixteen year degree education from recognized institutions would be given practical training to help them secure job at home or abroad. For this on the job training ten thousand rupees scholarship per month would be given for one year and fifty thousand graduates would benefit from the scheme. Four billion rupees have been earmarked for this scheme. The Youth Skilled Development Scheme is being launched for boys and girls who have passed 8th class. They will be given six months training in different trades along with scholarship of five thousand rupees a month. The government has earmarked eight hundred million rupees for the scheme. Mian Nawaz Sharif also announced a scheme for sponsoring tuition fee of students belonging to backward areas so that brilliant students are not deprived of their right to education due to financial constraints. The government would pay at an average forty thousand rupees annual fee on behalf of each of the thirty thousand students for MA‚ M.Sc and higher level education. This scheme is being launched at a cost of 1.2 billion rupees. The PM said four billion rupees have been earmarked for Prime Minister’s scheme for Provision of Laptops. Under the scheme one hundred thousand students would be provided laptops this year by the Federal Government. Nawaz said the Federal Cabinet has already approved basic structure of these schemes and arrangements have also been completed for their implementation. He however invited suggestions from people to make these schemes more transparent and hundred percent merit based. Details of these schemes would be available on the website www.pmo.gov.pk from Monday and people can give their comments on the website. Suggestions can also be sent in writing to the Prime Minister’s office in Islamabad.The six projects include Micro Interest Free Loans Scheme, Small Business Loans Scheme, Youth Training Scheme, Youth Skill Development Scheme, Fee Assistance Scheme and PM’s Scheme for Laptops Provision, said Nawaz Sharif in his second televised address to the nation. He said the government was committed to the uplift of youth. “I am sure that a self-reliant and prosperous youth will prove as a vanguard in the nation’s journey towards national integrity, prosperity and sovereignty.” The premier announced that the six development schemes would be applicable for the youth of the four provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. The federal cabinet had approved the basic features of these programmes on September 13 and the system for their implementation was also in place. Sharif said, however, to ensure more transparency, clarity and merit in these schemes, it was his desire to seek guidance from general public. He said input on these schemes could be given at the website, www.pmo.gov.pk, being uploaded on September 23. A special mobile phone number ’80028′ had also been dedicated for this purpose to which suggestions could be sent through SMS. The prime minister said the details of these schemes would also be circulated through national media including newspapers and television channels. Nawaz Sharif said the general public was welcome to send their written proposals addressed to the Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad as well. He said 10-days had been allocated for collection of suggestions and recommendations, and added he would not be satisfied until receiving an ample response from youth on the schemes meant for their prosperity. The schemes would be launched soon after working on the proposals and giving them a final shape. He said Rs20 billion allocated for the schemes for youth was not a big amount; however the limitation of resources owed to the severe economic problems of the country. The issues including electricity shortage, the projects about construction of roads, motorways, hospitals and setting up of industrial units needed large monetary resources. He expressed hope that a time would come when the tax payers’ money would be largely spent on the welfare projects and vowed to allocate more funds for the schemes of public importance in coming years. About the first scheme, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the ‘Micro Interest Free Loans’ is especially focused upon the financially weak segments of the society. Under this scheme, a total of Rs3.5 billion would be earmarked in the current financial year, which would benefit about 250,000 people. No interest would be charged on these loans. He also announced ‘Small Business Loan Scheme’ exclusively for the educated youth willing to initiate their private businesses. The prime minister said 50 per cent loans would be specified for the women. Under this scheme, skilled individuals would get loans worth Rs0.5 million to Rs2 million each to help start their work in agriculture sector or to open workshops. “The markup rate on this loan would be 8 per cent as the remaining would be borne by the government. Initially, the National Bank of Pakistan and First Women Bank will extend this loan,” said the premier, adding that the government had allocated Rs5 billion for the scheme. The third initiative, he said was ‘Youth Training Scheme’ under which the youth having completed 16-year education from accredited educational institutes would be provided training so that they may find suitable job opportunities locally or abroad. He also prayed that every citizen may get job opportunity in the country without going abroad. Prime Minister Sharif said during the on-job-training, the youth will be paid Rs10,000 stipend monthly for one year and Rs4 billion have been allocated for the scheme that would benefit around 50,000 graduates. Under the ‘Youth Skill Development Scheme,’ he said youngsters would be trained to help them earn their livelihood respectfully. The youth aged up to 25 years and with education up to eighth grade would be entitled to avail this facility.
Prime Minister’s Youth Skills Development Program:
Under this program 25,000 young people up to the age of 25 and with the minimum qualification of middle school (eight grade), will be imparted training in a number of trades across the country. National Vocational and Technical Training Authority (NAVTEC) will manage the program in collaboration with provincial TEVTA authorities. Emphasis will be placed on such trades as are in demand aboard or will enable the graduate to become self-employed.
Small Business Loans Scheme:
Under this scheme loans ranging from Rs 100,000 to Rs 2,000,000 will be available at a markup cost of 8%. The remaining cost will be borne by the government. In the first year of the scheme, 50,000 loans will be offered. The scheme will be strengthened in the light of experience gained in the first year of operation.
PM’s scheme for Provision of Laptop:
All students pursuing a degree program from one of the HEC recognised universities or institutions and meeting the merit criteria to be developed by the HEC will be eligible to get a free laptop.
Fee Reimbursement Scheme for Less Developed areas:
Under an existing scheme, bright student from less developed areas are provided tuition fee support while pursing higher education at masters’ and doctorate levels. Presently it is available to students from Balochistan, FATA, and Gilgit-Baltistan. However, the government decided to include students from rural Sindh, Multan, Bahawalpur and DG Khan Division of south Punjab in this scheme as well, and they will be eligible for tuition fee support provided they fulfill the merit criteria.
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