Micro-credit: Interest-free loans get a go-ahead
Loans will help residents of katchi abadis build their homes.
LAHORE:
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday approved the pilot project of a scheme to extend qarz-i-hasna (interest-free loan) to the poor, particularly residents of katchi abadis (squatter settlements) for the construction of houses.
He was presiding over a meeting where he directed the Planning and Development Board chairman to finalise arrangements for the launch of the scheme.
It was proposed that the loans should start at Rs200,000.
Earlier, Punjab Halal Development Authority chairman Justice (r) Khalilur Rehman Khan gave a briefing on the scheme. He also briefed the chief minister on feedlot fattening for the development of the livestock sector.
Sharif said the government had been taking steps to raise the people’s standards of living. He said development of livestock and agriculture sectors was vital for strengthening the economy.
He said the government had set up a modern slaughterhouse in Lahore to supply quality meat in the city. He stressed the need for boosting the export of halal products to bring about stability in the livestock sector.
The chief minister said focus should be on introducing corporate farming. He said value addition in the livestock sector could help the country attain a greater share of the international export market.
Chief Minister’s Special Assistant on Livestock Arshad Jatt attended the meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2014.
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday approved the pilot project of a scheme to extend qarz-i-hasna (interest-free loan) to the poor, particularly residents of katchi abadis (squatter settlements) for the construction of houses.
He was presiding over a meeting where he directed the Planning and Development Board chairman to finalise arrangements for the launch of the scheme.
It was proposed that the loans should start at Rs200,000.
Earlier, Punjab Halal Development Authority chairman Justice (r) Khalilur Rehman Khan gave a briefing on the scheme. He also briefed the chief minister on feedlot fattening for the development of the livestock sector.
Sharif said the government had been taking steps to raise the people’s standards of living. He said development of livestock and agriculture sectors was vital for strengthening the economy.
He said the government had set up a modern slaughterhouse in Lahore to supply quality meat in the city. He stressed the need for boosting the export of halal products to bring about stability in the livestock sector.
The chief minister said focus should be on introducing corporate farming. He said value addition in the livestock sector could help the country attain a greater share of the international export market.
Chief Minister’s Special Assistant on Livestock Arshad Jatt attended the meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2014.