From Abid Usman
LAHORE: The Punjab cabinet on Tuesday approved the ‘Asaan Karobar Finance Scheme’, a major, aims at promoting economic growth and supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the province.
Chief Minister (CM) chaired the provincial cabinet meeting in which major decisions were taken including the approval of the Asaan Karobar Finance Scheme. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari while speaking to media said that Asaan Karobar Finance Scheme has been greenlighted by the cabinet under which an interest-free loan up to 30 million would be provided.
This multi-million-rupee scheme will provide financial assistance to entrepreneurs across various sectors, including agriculture, with a focus on creating jobs, boosting exports, and driving economic development.
The application process would be launched soon.
Azma Bukhari said that the cabinet has also given its nod to the Hindu Marriage Act, a legislation that regulates marriage laws for Hindus in Punjab.
To ensure road safety, the cabinet has approved a province-wide speed limit of 60 km/h for motorcycles. This move aims to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities on Punjab’s roads.
Earlier on Monday, Maryam Nawaz Sharif announced to launch free 3-marla plot scheme for deserving people.
Punjab CM inaugurated Zahra Homes/Maskan Ravi Scheme in Kala Shah Kaku under the Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar program, a key initiative under which interest-free loans of up to Rs1.5 million are being provided to families to help them build their homes.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Zahra Homes/Maskan Ravi project, here on Monday, the CM expressed her satisfaction over the completion of the project, which has already provided homes to 100 families in just two and a half months.
Earlier, Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed the concerned officials to ensure laptop distribution among deserving students under the ‘CM Punjab Laptop Scheme’ within 90 days, media reported.
The Punjab chief minister also directed to provide 2,000 deserving minority students. The top position holders from the Matriculation and Intermediate (F.Sc) examinations will also receive laptops as well as a Guard of Honour.
According to a press statement issued by the CM media wing, the deserving students will be given the latest core i7, 13th-generation laptops under the CM Punjab Laptop Scheme.
Scholarships will also be given to students of 30,000 government and 10,000 private educational institutions across Punjab. A total of 18,000 female students will get scholarships under the Chief Minister’s Honhar Scholarship Program.
Earlier, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that Punjab government will pay more than Rs 125 billion annually to meet all educational expenses of 25,000 students.
While presiding over a meeting of the Education Department, she directed the relevant authorities to award prizes to position holders of all education boards in Punjab as well as to the teachers of these outstanding students.
CM Maryam also approved Students Scholarship Programme and Laptop Scheme for students, and directed the relevant authorities to take necessary measures for their launch. She said, “Punjab government will pay more than Rs 125 billion annually to meet all educational expenses of 25000 students.”
