Land with business loan offered

CM Maryam calls for increasing number of beneficiaries

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LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced land allocation in industrial zones for recipients of the Asaan Karobar loan, instructing the authorities concerned to expedite the business finance scheme and increase the number of beneficiaries.

Addressing a ceremony for distributing Asaan Karobar finance cheques and cards, she directed the Bank of Punjab to issue maximum loans. She called for a policy to ensure immediate start of the businesses and announced allocation of land in the industrial zones for the loan recipients.

"NOCs (no-objection certificates) and licences will continue to be issued. Take loans and start businesses," she told the participants.

She said the government would also launch a free plot scheme in Ramazan and 3.3 million families would receive Rs10,000 each at their doorsteps during the month. The laptop scheme for students will be launched after Ramazan.

"If the country still doesn't progress, the youth will lose all hope," she cautioned.

The chief minister said, "Pakistan's economy has taken off. Interest-free loans are necessary for the stability of the private sector. The economy remained sick for seven years, but now the situation is improving. The country's economy and the standard of living of the people are improving."

She said that whenever PML-N President Nawaz Sharif made a promise, he fulfilled it and economic development was the hallmark of the party's government.

She said, "People from other provinces and the media express their surprise at how come so many projects are being launched in Punjab. The Asaan Karobar Finance and Asaan Karobar Card schemes are being launched in a short span of time, loans are being received in a period of one month. Not a single rupee in interest will be charged on the loans of Asaan Karobar Finance and Asaan Karobar Card schemes." Loans starting from Rs1 million are being provided through the schemes.

She said difficult conditions and lengthy information were not involved in applying for the Asaan Karobar Card to get a loan on merit. "Providing loans to private institutions across the globe generates employment opportunities," she added.

She said inflation had dropped from 38 per cent to less than 4% since the PML-N formed its government and price of flour in Punjab was the lowest as compared to all other provinces. She said she checked the prices of flour and bread daily.

The chief minister said 185,000 applications had been received for the Asaan Karobar Card and 71,000 each for the Rs5 million and Rs30 million finance schemes. She said she would check the list of those receiving loans every day.

"The economy depends on small and medium enterprises. Not everyone can do big business. Those who get loans from Asaan Karobar will prosper in days and give jobs to other people," she added.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said calls had been made for taking to the streets, laying siege and arson, but not a single person had come out from all over Punjab. She alleged that only government employees had been brought pout from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in response to such calls for protest.

PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also met members of the Punjab Assembly from Sahiwal, Khanewal, Multan, Lodhran, Vehari, and Bahawalnagar.

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said on the occasion, "It is unfortunate that a developing country was derailed and destroyed by polluting politics. Rudeness, bad manners, malice and revenge were introduced into politics."

He added, "The economy and values were destroyed, and democracy was stabbed in the back. Pakistan has come back from the brink of default. Economic stability is being revived due to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif's hard work. Economic development will be ensured through the continuity of policies."

He said, "Corruption, economic destruction, inflation and bad manners were gifts of previous regime change. We had said goodbye to the IMF. Our goal and narrative is to develop the country and make the people prosperous by saving them from inflation."