PWD youth happy with PM’s loan scheme

Person With Disabilities (PWD) benefitting from the Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan Programme

ISLAMABAD:

A resident of Punjab who happens to be a Person With Disabilities (PWD) is benefitting from the Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan Programme.

Physically challenged Haider Ali has opened a dairy business after obtaining a soft loan of one million rupees under its Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (YES).

Haider hails from Hujra Shah Muqam, Punjab. He bought two buffaloes and cows from the loan he received under the scheme. He said he earned around Rs 50,000 every month by selling their milk.

“Since childhood, my left arm and leg were disabled. I never wanted to be a burden on my family. Therefore, I continued my study and did M.A. I started a job and realised my expenditure was greater than my salary,” he said, sharing his story in a video message posted by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Youth Affairs Muhammad Usman Dar on his Twitter account.

Haider said he always wanted to support his family financially by starting his own business. “Whenever I discussed the issue with relatives (to get a loan), they always brought up my disability and asked me how I would return that loan.” He said initially he hesitated in applying for the loan under Kamyab Jawan programme but eventually did so and received a loan.

Appreciating the transparency of Kamyab Jawan Programme, he said his loan was approved without any guarantee. He thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Bank of Punjab and the Kamyab Jawan programme team for helping him start his own business.

Commenting over the development, SAPM Usman Dar said the Kamyab Jawan programme is a ray of hope for thousands of families and people like Haider Ali who has faced his physical disability with courage. He added the project has successfully extended financial assistance to marginalised segments of society in line with the prime minister’s vision.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2021.