'Punjab Rozgar Scheme': 1.6 million needy people will get jobs: Buzdar

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar said on Friday that 1.6 million needy people will get jobs through the 'Punjab Rozgar Scheme' worth Rs30 billion. Under the agreement, the Bank of Punjab (BoP) will provide soft loans to successful applicants. This scheme will make the youth economically self-reliant and the owners of small and medium scale industries, as well as the traders facing financial crunch due to coronavirus pandemic, will be able to develop their businesses, the CM said this while chairing the ceremony of signing an agreement of Punjab Rozgar Scheme at his office, here on Friday.

President of the Bank of Punjab Zafar Masood and MD Punjab Small Industries Corporation Jamil Ahmed Jamil signed the agreement.

Talking on the occasion, the CM said, loans ranging from Rs100,000 to 10 million will be offered to 20 to 50 years old applicants at the very minimal interest rate. Small loans will be provided for 339 sub-sectors of 23 assorted sectors, including 26 sub-sectors of the textile industry, he said. This scheme will promote cottage industry, he added. The government plans to transform individual skills as an investment and this scheme will prove a game changer initiative in this regard, he added.

The CM was briefed that 9428 persons have applied for loans; required fee is not deposited with 6138 applications while 3035 applications are submitted along-with fee and PSIC has processed 1619 applications.

Moreover, the CM, while chairing a meeting to review steps for rehabilitation of affectees of Hafeez Centre fire, directed that a mechanism should be devised in three days for compensation of losses. Our sympathies are with the traders and they will not be left alone, he assured. The CM also directed the Home Department for checking of fire safety arrangements in high-rise buildings, shopping malls and commercial plazas. A circular to this effect has also been issued to commissioners and DCs for a comprehensive survey. Fire safety arrangements will be checked through survey teams consisting of additional deputy commissioner (revenue), district officer 1122, civil defence officer, district officer (industries) and the representative of housing department/development authorities. The management of all such buildings will be bound to keep fire-safety equipment functional along with arrangements for safe emergency exit. Similarly, the owners will also be responsible for the fire-fighting system and the concerned administration and civil defence officials will be bound for regular monitoring of fire-fighting arrangements and submission of reports to the CM Office.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020