Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government launches Rs 1.3 billion Pakhtunkhwa Hunarmand Rozgar Scheme

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has launched Rs 1.30 billion Pakhtunkhwa Hunarmand Rozgar Scheme for jobs to skilled unemployed people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Under the programme, skilled people of recognised technical institute will be provided loans ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 3,00,000 for a period of three years.
The application for loan can be entertained till 30 November, 2011. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding initiation of the programme was signed in CM's House Peshawar. Secretary Industry Shah Rukh Arbab, on behalf of provincial government, and executive Vice President BOK Imran Samad, on behalf of BOK, signed the Memorandum in the presence of Chief Minister. Senior Provincial Minister Rahim Dad Khan, Provincial Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Provincial Minister Salim Khan and Mehmood Zeb, Chief Secretary, ACS, MD Bank of Khyber and other authorities were also present on the occasion.
Addressing at the gathering, the Chief Minister said that provision of government jobs to all in current circumstances is impossible, added, co-operation of private sector is required and there is a need for such programmes that ensure respectable livelihood for people".
He said that bearing this in mind, we first started Bacha Khan Khpal Rozgar Scheme and now has launched Hunarmand Rozgar Scheme that will be free from political influence and loans under the scheme will purely be issued on merit and first come first serve basis.
He said that greater attention was required towards security in the province, though ignored in the past, added, we fully concentrated on the matter resultantly, needs of police and security personnel are fulfilled today.
He said that the provincial government is also considering another scheme under which technical education will be made available to 1500 students in technical institutes. He said, "we have no political objectives behind these schemes but we want employment of people beyond politics, added, employing of ANP or PPPP people will not resolve the problems that is why we want provision of job to entire population of the province. He said that no mark up will be charged on this scheme and the demanded 5 percent amount is bank's service charges.
He said to facilitate people, form of the scheme will be provided through offices of DCO's in districts lacking branches of the Bank. He said that the people should also consider these loans a trust and shall return it with honesty in order other people could be benefited and that the bank and the government can also launch new schemes.
Speaking on the occasion, Provincial Minister for Mineral Development and Technical Education Mehmood Zeb said that lack of employment opportunities will result in people tilt to terrorism, added, that is why the coalition government has worked on increased employment opportunities. He said that we have initiated different schemes despite 80 percent budget been spent on salaries. He said that scheme of Rs 4 billion for training of nurses is in the pipeline.
Executive Vice President Bank of Khyber Imran Samad said that under Huner Mand Rozgar scheme of Rs 1.30 billion, trained professionals of technical institutes will be provided loans ranging between 50,000 and Rs 3,00,000 , added, the loans will be provided to people having age 18 years to 40 years. He said that the loan obtained under the scheme will be returned in 3 years with 5 percent mark-up and can be extended by another six months. The applications for loans will be accepted till 30 November requiring two guarantors with one government servant.