Youth loan scheme not a political gimmick, says PM Sharif

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said that the recently-launched youth loan scheme is not a political ‘gimmick.’

Addressing a launching ceremony of the Prime Ministers Business Loan Scheme for Youth in Bahawalpur, he said that youths should be able to play their due role in the development of Pakistan.

PM Sharif said that the country is facing some key challenges including extremism, terrorism and energy crisis.

“The government is trying to address all these issues,” he said, adding the government has taken several measures to control energy crisis.

The prime minister said that the fact young people are taking in the loan scheme, under which Rs100 billion have been earmarked, encourages him.

He said that during the six-month rule of this government not a single corruption scandal has been reported, adding his government won’t allow corruption at any level.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said credit goes to the incumbent government’s transparent policies that no scandal of corruption has surfaced during the last six months.

He categorically stated that one hundred billion rupees scheme has not been launched for political gains as it is in the best national interests. He said the future of this country is linked with the youth and expressed the confidence that they will not disappoint the nation.

He hoped that the first year of loan scheme will be a success story for the youth and in the next four years‚ more allocations will be made for the scheme. He said he will visit each nook and corner of the country to get firsthand knowledge of the problems being faced by the youth.

Referring to the challenges of militancy‚ terrorism‚ unemployment and energy shortage in the country‚ the Prime Minister expressed the commitment to confront them at all costs.

He said though the issue of electricity shortage has not been resolved fully and much more needs to be done in this regard‚ yet the supply situation has improved a lot during the last six months.  He said mega projects such as dams of Diamer Basha‚ Dasu‚ Bunji and coal based Gaddani and solar park will be constructed in order to overcome the power shortage.