pakistan

Youth Programme – an opportunity for unemployed to excel

Published

1 year ago

February 11, 2023

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Youth Programme – an opportunity for unemployed to excel

Young generation, especially the students, economists, researchers and emerging businessmen always prove to be the backbone of any country as they put in maximum efforts for creating strong economies and invincible nations.

Nations across the globe regardless of caste, creed and colour fully employ such squads to lay down sound economic, cultural and educational foundations not only for self-sufficiency but to compete internationally.

Therefore, the governments in respective countries off and on introduce programmes and policies to get optimum benefit from abilities of their youth by involving them in a variety of nation-building activities, and Pakistan is less to none.

The recent remarkable initiative of reviving the Prime Minister’s Youth Business and Agriculture Loan scheme speaks volumes of the present government’s commitment to cultivate and advance business to empower youth that comprises a big chunk of the country’s total population.

“Such initiatives are a blessing for people like us in an era when there is economic recession and it is hard to get desired jobs,” said Salman Ali, a youngster who is in search of a job after completing Mechanical Engineering degree.

“This initiative will enable people like me to earn a respectable living and promote entrepreneurship culture in the country to build a strong economy and address the issue of unemployment,” he added.

Aimed at promoting entrepreneurship for youth by providing business loans and ensure bright future for them, this programme will facilitate all, including male, female, transgender and special persons between 21-45 years age to get loans up to Rs 7.5 million with 25 percent quota specified for women.

Terms and conditions will be simple and mark up lesser as 15 commercial, Islamic and SME banks will be providing loans to set up new as well as extension of the existing business, performing as catalyst for economic empowerment of the youth.

“Empowering youth is one of the top priorities of the government,” said Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Youth Affairs, Shaza Fatima Khawaja. “It is our history that whenever the PML-N comes into power, it launches multiple schemes for students, unemployed youth and the small businessmen.”

She said, “Through its youth and agriculture loan programme, the government aims to providing financial assistance to talented youth for reducing unemployment and promoting a culture of self-employment to reduce extra burden on national kitty.

“Pakistani youth are talented, hardworking and passionate to compete in international market and fully benefit from opportunities provided them to grow and prosper,” she stated.

As unemployment and inflation were touching new heights due to global recession and unwise decisions of the previous PTI government, empowerment scheme would provide breathing space for the poverty stricken people.

Arifa Fatima who is already running a stitching business at small scale also pinned hopes in this endeavor as she thinks, “it will pave way for exploiting entrepreneurial potential of youth.”

“Provision of business loans on simple terms and conditions and with lesser markup will encourage people like us to fully utilize our energies for better earning as well as contribute to economic development of the country,” she stated.

“It was my long cherished desire to expand business but paucity of resources always hampered me,” she said. “But, this opportunity will definitely help me expand my business and create jobs for other people as well.”

“Special persons were often considered as a burden for their families as well as society. But, this initiative has also raised their hopes to become productive hands by making them earn a respectable livelihood.

“This is encouraging to include people like me in this scheme,” said Haris Kamal. “Special focus on persons with disabilities will ensure their constructive role in economic development, making them equally productive citizens of society.”

“Focusing this segment of society is appreciable,” remarked Abid Akram, a Disability Rights Activist. “We acknowledge the government’s initiative to provide easy loans to youth especially for special persons who form a sizable chunk of society with half among them the female.”

He said about 80 percent of the women with disabilities lived in rural areas and lacked access to basic health, education and employment. “Since these women cannot contribute in financial matters of their family, they are considered to be a burden.

“But, Youth Business and empowerment programme will help enable them to be financially independent,” Abid Akram said.

“We hope the government will exploit all means to spread information about the programme especially in far-flung areas for creating awareness among people.”

Pakistan’s agriculture sector has a vast potential and agriculture loans under this scheme are expected to increase investment in this sector and bring revolutionary changes.

Khalid Anwer, an agriculturist also sees better future for farmers especially youth who can promote corporate farming in the country to achieve the goals of self-sufficiency and food security.

“This scheme will help mould the interest of youth to benefit from the potential of agriculture sector making it technology driven for their and the benefit of the country as a whole,” he said.

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pakistan

Govt wants more women in police department: Maryam Nawaz

Published

10 hours ago

April 25, 2024

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Govt wants more women in police department: Maryam Nawaz

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said government wants to increase number of women in the police department.

Maryam, while addressing the passing-out parade ceremony at Chung Police Training College, said, “I salute you all. I am happy the first Sword of Honour has been awarded to a female police officer. I am proud of you. I was waiting for this event since taking oath as chief minister, she said.

“When I wore the police uniform for the first time, I realised it is a big responsibility,” said the chief minister and added she was happy to see 530 women passing out.

She said she happy to see women police officers performing duties.

“When I wore the uniform for the first time today, I felt it was a big responsibility. I am proud of women serving in police department,” said CM Maryam.

She said there were 7,000 women police personnel serving in Punjab. “I want to increase women participation in Punjab police. Lady cops are superhuman. Women are soft hearted so they forgive.

However, there should be no tenderness in your heart for the oppressor,” said the chief minister and asked the lady police officers to take pity on the oppressed and hold the oppressor accountable for his misdeeds.

“THERE IS NO REVENGE IN MY HEART”

Maryam said there was no feelings of revenge in her heart. “If, being the chief minister, I decide something against someone, I do it with a heavy heart,” she said.

“To be a chief minister is not an easy task. I had to make hectic efforts reach this place,” she said.
She paid glowing tribute to her father Nawaz Sharif and uncle Shehbaz Sharif.

PASSING OUT PARADE

Earlier, a passing out parade was held at Chung Police Training College. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz attended the ceremony as a special guest.

Maryam inspected the parade dressed in police uniform. She also distributed prizes to police officers who exhibited excellent performance.

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pakistan

Supreme Court reinstates Balochistan Assembly speaker, annuls ECP’s decision

Published

10 hours ago

April 25, 2024

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Supreme Court reinstates Balochistan Assembly speaker, annuls ECP's decision

The Supreme Court on Thursday annulled the decision of Election Commission (ECP) and reinstated Balochistan Assembly Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai.

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, also annulled the ECP’s order of re-polling at 12 polling stations of PB 51 Chaman.

Justice Khan asked the ECP counsel under which regulation the commission ordered re-election at 12 polling stations?

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar remarked that the ECP considered only 12 polling stations but ignored others.

Justice Khan remarked that the ECP had neither conducted an inquiry nor followed any rules. The DG Law submitted that the ECP took into account those 12 polling stations regarding which it had received plea. There was high voter turnout in these 12 polling stations.

Justice Mazhar said that the ECP should have taken into account the entire constituency. Had the ECP performed according to rules, people would not have had to come to court.

The court referred the case back to the ECP after consulting the parties and ordered the commission to decide the issue within 10 days.

It may be remembered that the ECP had ordered re-polling on the application of Khaliq’s opposing candidate Asghar Khan Achakzai and withdrew the notification of his success. PML-N’s candidate Khaliq challenged the ECP decision.

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pakistan

Govt, Opp prepare power-sharing framework for NA committees

Published

10 hours ago

April 25, 2024

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Govt, Opp prepare power-sharing framework for NA committees

The government and opposition on Thursday prepared a power-sharing formula for formation of National Assembly committees, after which the negotiations entered the final stage.

The government alliance will get chairmanship of 26 committees of the National Assembly while opposition will have chairmanship of 11 committees.

Similarly, the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee will be from the opposition and the chairman of the Kashmir Committee will be appointed from the government side.

The speaker will be the chairman of the National Assembly House Business Advisory Committee.

According to the framework, standing committees will have 13 members and Public Accounts Committee will have 16 members from the government alliance.

Likewise, Kashmir Committee will have 15 members while House Business Advisory will have 18 members from the coalition government.

The number of opposition members in the standing committees of the National Assembly, Public Accounts Committee and Kashmir Committee will be 7-7.

Apart from this, the chairman of 14 committees of the National Assembly will be from the Muslim League-N, while PPP will get chairmanship of eight committees.

MQM will get chairmanships of two committees. Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) will get one chairmanship each.

10 committees will be chaired by independent members supported by PTI while one committee will be chaired by JUI.

Out of the 20 members of the standing committees, 14 members will be appointed from the government side and six from the opposition parties.

Each standing committee will have seven members from PML-N, four from PPP and one member each from PML-Q and MQM.

In the standing committee, five independent members of PTI and one member of JUI will be given membership as committee members.

Of the 23 members of the Public Accounts Committee, 16 MPs will be included from the government and seven from the opposition.
About 22 members of the Privileges Committee, 15 members will be included from the government and seven from the opposition side. Of 16 members in the government assurances committee, 11 will be from the government and five from the opposition.

In the 22-member Kashmir Committee, the government’s quota will be 15 while the opposition will contribute with seven members. Of the 26 members of the House Business Advisory Committee, 18 will be from the government and eight from the opposition.

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