Punjab introduces ‘Karobar Card’ loan scheme for small businesses

The Punjab Government has announced the launch of the ‘Karobar Card’ Scheme aimed at promoting small businesses.

The decision was made during a meeting in Lahore on Saturday, chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. Under the scheme, loans ranging from Rs100,000 to Rs1 million will be provided to eligible small business owners.

Additionally, the government introduced the ‘Chief Minister Aasan Karobar Financing Scheme’ to support medium-sized businesses.

This scheme will offer loans of up to Rs 30 million, repayable over five years.

The Chief Minister emphasised that these initiatives would create employment opportunities and foster growth in the province’s business and industrial sectors.

Schemes launched by Punjab government

Earlier last week, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif launched several initiatives aimed at providing relief and support to the people of Punjab.

These include the Punjab Free Solar Panel Scheme, which will offer 100,000 solar systems to electricity consumers who use up to 200 units per month.

The solar systems will be distributed free of charge, with verification conducted through applicants' CNICs. The installation is expected to reduce carbon emissions and ease the burden on the federal government's subsidies.

The Honhaar Scholarship Scheme was inaugurated, which will award 30,000 scholarships to students from both private and public universities, with a focus on female and Southern Punjab students. The Chief Minister announced that the Punjab government would cover the entire expense of foreign education for qualifying students.

CM Maryam Nawaz emphasized the importance of education, criticizing previous governments for neglecting public funds and reaffirming that the current administration's focus is on providing merit-based opportunities for the youth.

Additionally, under the Chief Minister's Laptop and Merit Scholarship Program, 90,000 laptops will be distributed to students across Punjab.

The programme targets top-performing students, minority students, and those in various sectors, including medicine and agriculture.

The first phase of distribution is set to begin soon, with 5,000 laptops expected within the next 30 days.

Maryam Nawaz also approved the Dialysis Card Scheme, allocating Rs 1 million for each patient’s treatment, aiming to improve healthcare access in the province.

During the event, she also addressed the spread of AIDS in Multan, directing immediate action on the issue.