Empowering youth: Chief minister inaugurates self-employment scheme

Fall in value of yen has decreased cost of project, Shahbaz says.

LAHORE:

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday inaugurated the Apna Rozgar Scheme, touted as the largest programme of its kind by the government, to provide unemployed youngsters with a source of livelihood.

Sharif said the distribution of vehicles under the scheme had been conducted in a transparent manner. He was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the scheme in Model Town area. Sharif said the government had initiated the scheme to provide the unemployed youth of the province with a source of livelihood.  He said the government had transparently distributed 20,000 vehicles among youngsters under a Rs10 billion-project three years ago. Sharif said the recovery rate of the programme stood at 99.99 per cent. The chief minister said Suzuki Bolan and Mehran vehicles had been distributed under the project. He said Suzuki Bolan and Ravi vehicles were being distributed under the new Apna Rozgar Scheme.

The chief minister said hundreds of thousands of people would benefit from the Apna Rozgar Scheme. Sharif said the scheme would contribute towards economic progress in the province. He said those obtaining vehicles under the scheme would have to pay Rs10,000 for a Suzuki Bolan and Rs9,000 for a Suzuki Ravi per month. Sharif said the cost of the project had been reduced by Rs400 million following the decrease in the value of the yen versus the dollar. The chief minister congratulated those who had obtained vehicles under the scheme and distributed keys amongst them.  

Education for all

He said the volume of the Punjab Educational Endowment Fund (PEEF) had reached Rs12 billion. Sharif said education of 85,000 students from income-poor families at prestigious educational institutions was being financed by the PEF’s Rs2 billion yearly income. He said the fund’s volume was expected to cross Rs20 billion in three years. Sharif said this would finance the education of up to 150,000 students.

The chief minister said the federal government would establish 2,400MW Liquefied Natural Gas power projects in the province. He said the Punjab government will establish 1,200MW LNG power projects.

Consul general calls on CM

Sharif said China was a sincere and trustworthy friend of the nation. He was speaking at a meeting with Chinese Consul General Yu Boren.He  said the friendly ties between the two nations had transformed into economic ties.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2015.