ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched loan and laptop programmes for youngsters on Tuesday as part of an attempt to promote self-employment and entrepreneurship.
Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, he said that persons between the ages of 21 and 45 might benefit from a loan of up to Rs7.5 million under these programmes. The lowest age restriction for IT and E-commerce enterprises is 18 years.
The prime minister said that Pakistan was going through terrible times and that he was willing to give up his whole political career and life for the benefit of the nation.
“I have served twice as a chief minister of Punjab and currently serving as a prime minister of the nation. What kind of legacy will we leave if these concerns are not addressed? It is apparent that Pakistan is facing enormous problems, and if we accept responsibility, we will make our last-ditch attempts to shepherd the nation out of trouble,” he said.
The prime minister said that it was their joint obligation as Pakistanis, politicians, and Muslims to react to the terrible circumstances, and he would even risk his life for the sake of the nation. He said that troubles would arise along the way, but they would have to face the agony. The individuals in charge, politicians and the wealthy, needed to set an example since it was wrong to punish the poor with price increases while the affluent and powerful benefited from the country’s debts, he continued.
Youth will be given loans of up to Rs7.5 million with simple payments and low interest rates under the initiative. He said that a loan of up to Rs500,000 will be interest-free.
The prime minister expressed his hope, saying that the young have the capacity and skill to lead Pakistan out of its present problems. He lauded them as “the brilliant lights on the horizon of the nation”. He said that the government had the primary duty for resolving the country’s problems. They took over the government during tough times, but despite this, their will to make Pakistan stronger got greater, he continued.