Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif Tuesday said that billion of rupees would be added in the Chief Minister’s Self-Employment Scheme so that maximum people could benefit from it.
Addressing a cheque-distribution ceremony of the Chief Minister Self-Employment Scheme (CMSES) among deserving people at Badshahi Mosque, he said people getting cheques under the scheme were very hard working and responsible citizens of the country who not only utilise this money for improving their living standards but also return the loan honestly like those people who had already got benefited from the scheme.
“Unfortunately, there are many people who have swallowed the loans and are called noble,” he lamented.
He said Pakistan could not make progress in real sense until the trend of writing off loans would not change, adding that strict accountability was needed.
“It is not impossible and goal of making Pakistan an Islamic welfare state according to the vision of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal can be achieved if we vow today,” Sharif added.
He said that such initiatives could only bring progress and happiness in the country.
Dr Amjad Saqib said that (CMSES) was a message of prosperity and self-reliance. He said that so far loans to 850,000 poor families had been provided while the amount of loan which had been disbursed was about over Rs 16 billion.
He thanked all those who were making efforts to make this scheme successful including Akhuwat, Minister and Secretary of Industries.
As many as 25,000 families would get interest-free loans of Rs 1 billion through (CMSES) and in three year its horizon would be expanded.
Different initiatives of Punjab government including Chief Minister’s Self Employment Scheme were bringing betterment and prosperity in the society.
Provincial Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Minister of State Marvi Memom, Badshahi Mosque Khateeb Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad and DCO Lahore Muhammad Usman were also present.
Later, the chief minister distributed cheques among the deserving people.
Meanwhile, assembly members of various districts met Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday. They included MNA Javed Ali Shah, MPAs Rana Muhammad Afzal and Mansha Ullah Butt. Sharif said that elected representatives should maintain a close contact with the masses for resolving their problems.