Unique finance scheme for youth okayed: Azma

Punjab govt to provide govt land to youth without lease and offer interest-free loans of up to Rs30m

By Our Correspondent
January 15, 2025
Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Punjab Azma Zahid Bokhari addresses media persons. — APP/File
Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Punjab Azma Zahid Bokhari addresses media persons. — APP/File

LAHORE: Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has announced that the cabinet has approved a unique finance scheme for the youth of Punjab.

The Punjab government will provide government land to the youth without lease and offer interest-free loans of up to 30 million rupees. Instead of being part of any “Fitna Group”, the progressive youth of Pakistan are now placing their hopes in Maryam Nawaz.

Speaking to media outside the Punjab Assembly here on Tuesday, she said the Punjab government would initiate nearly 100,000 small and medium-sized startups. The work Maryam Nawaz is doing for the youth is also desired by the youth in other provinces. The number of laptops for students is being increased to 40,000. Scholarships for deserving students in second and third years will also cover their fees. Today is a great day for the minorities in Punjab. After the Sikh Marriage Act, the cabinet has approved the Hindu-Sikh Marriage Act, which will be implemented throughout Punjab. Through the Kissan Card, farmers have made purchases worth 46 billion rupees so far. The Punjab government has distributed more than 9,000 green tractors to farmers.

She mentioned that registration of all vehicles including rickshaws would be mandatory within six months in Punjab. The chief minister has assigned a task to increase cotton production, and now cotton and sugarcane production will be monitored in the province. In the next two to three days, 28 electric buses will be seen on the roads of Lahore. Charging stations will be set up for these buses, and new depots will be established for double-decker buses.

He revealed that the cabinet approved a dialysis program, increasing the funding for dialysis from 700,000 to one million rupees. A special court will be established for overseas Pakistanis. She said the “Fitna Party” used overseas Pakistanis to collect Zakat and charity to cause turmoil, but Maryam was working to provide relief. She concluded by saying that Maryam doubled the Journalist Support Funds.