Self-employment scheme: 52 people get small loans

LAHORE: As many as 52 people were on Saturday granted loans between Rs100,000 and Rs200,000 under the Chief Minister Punjab Self-Employment Scheme.  The ceremony at Shah Jamal’s shrine was attended by officials from the Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC) and Akuwat, a micro-lending organisation. These included Akuwat chairman Muhammad Amjad Saqib, Punjab Small Industries Corporation Director Bilal Ahmad Butt. Trade, Industry and Investments Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Shafiq was the chief guest. Speaking at the occasion, the minister said distribution of interest-free loans had been started to end unemployment in the province. He said the loans would enable the recipients to start their businesses and earn their livelihoods in a respectable way. He said the selection of recipients had been completed on merit. The minister said the provincial government had allocated Rs2 billion for the scheme in the current fiscal year. Akuwat chairman Amjad Saqib said his organisation had provided micro-loans of up to Rs13 billion through its 272 centres in the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2015.