Kp Govt Starts Disbursement Of Interest-free Loans To Youth

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur on Tuesday distributed cheques of interest-free loans to youth under the Ehsaas Nojawan Programme to start business, saying his government is committed to financially empowering youth and providing them with employment opportunities.

The cheque distribution ceremony was held at the Chief Minister’s House here.

Cabinet members and advisers to the CM, including Syed Fakhar Jahan, retired Brigadier Mohammad Sajjad, Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif and Muzammil Aslam, officials of the department of youth affairs, and selected beneficiaries of the programme also attended the event.

According to an official statement, the Ehsaas Nojawan Programme is a flagship initiative under the umbrella ofEhsaas initiatives of the provincial government aimed at financially empowering the youth of the province by providing them with interest-free loans to start their own businesses.

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The three-year programme, launched with an initial budget of Rs3 billion, has an allocation of Rs1.1 billion in the current fiscal year. It consists of two It consists of two components. The first component of the programme is being implemented in collaboration with the Bank of Khyber, through which interest-free loans are being provided.

Under this component, clusters of three to five individuals aged 18-35 years are eligible for loans ranging from Rs1 million to Rs5 million.

A flexible repayment schedule spanning eight years has been designed, with the first 20 months as a grace period during which no repayments are required.

The second phase, in collaboration with Akhuwat Microfinance Bank, has a budget of Rs2 billion. This phase offers interest-free loans between Rs100,000 and Rs500,000 to individuals aged 18-40 years for small-scale business ventures. Special quotas have been reserved for women and persons with disabilities.

Addressing the ceremony, the chief minister said three more programmes under the Ehsaas initiative — Ehsaas Apna Ghar Programme, Ehsaas Rozgar Programme and Ehsaas Hunar Programme — would also be launched very soon with a combined allocation of Rs15 billion in the current budget.

The chief minister emphasized that the Ehsaas Nojawan Programme is a critical step toward financial independence for the youth, aligning with the vision of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s founding chairman. The initiative aims to encourage young people not only to create employment opportunities for themselves but also to generate jobs for others.

He urged the youth to prioritise entrepreneurship over seeking employment, highlighting the immense potential for growth in business ventures. The provincial government, he assured, is committed to providing full support to young individuals with innovative business ideas.

Concluding his address, Gandapur stressed the importance of hard work and integrity, stating, “Honesty is the best strategy, and there is no substitute for hard work.”

Meanwhile, the fourth meeting of the Board of Directors of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority was held at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur.

Cabinet members Zahid Chun Zeb and retired Brigadier Musaddiq Abbasi, and additional chief secretary (planning and development) Ikramullah Khan, along with other board members, attended the meeting.

Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur announced the regularisation of the tourism police’s personnel and approved an increase in their monthly salary from Rs36,000 to Rs45,000.

The board decided to provide additional heavy bikes and advanced communication gadgets to the tourism police.

The chief minister also directed the tourism department to take steps to identify new tourist destinations in the province. He said at least four new tourism sites and a project should be reflected in the upcoming ADP.

Highlighting the growing number of tourists, Mr Gandapur noted that 15 million domestic and international tourists visited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the last season, and emphasised the need to explore and develop new tourist spots.

He issued directives for amending and publicising the master plan for the Thandiani Integrated Tourism Zone and emphasised the need for simultaneous construction of access roads for all integrated tourism zones.

The chief minister said that tourism remained one of the province’s priority sectors, offering significant potential for job creation and investment. The board approved the establishment of finance and HR committees under the board of directors.

It also directed the formation of outsourcing, investment, and culture committees to enhance the operational efficiency of the tourism sector.

The chief minister underlined the immense opportunities in the tourism sector and said the government was committed to promoting the province as a premier destination for both domestic and international travellers.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2025