Youth revolution takes root
Courtesy:- S Rahman
Visualize the scenario when a very large section of 60 per cent of Pakistani population i.e the youth, will become providers converting from their status of dependents.
Quoting Maryam Nawaz, Honorary Chairperson of the PM Youth Programme, the hundred-billion-rupee package announced by prime minister for youth’s empowerment and financial independence will convert the youth from dependents to providers.
Once that dream comes true, Pakistan will definitely acquire the status of an economic giant, free from the crutches of foreign aid. There can be no two opinions about this turnaround that is bound to materialize in the foreseeable future. For sure, the youth revolution has taken roots courtesy the wise and timely steps announced by PM Sharif. In fact, the PM has given serious thought to this most important facet of national development. Being already blessed with one of the biggest youth element that is not available to majority nations of the world, Pakistan can get strengthened and grow, in leaps and bounds, provided this most important element of national power (the youth) is given a proper sense of direction, motivation and appropriate and timely facilitation. That has now been done as evidenced from PM’s Business Loan Scheme for Youth.
The prime minister is right in his contention that the government has opened new vistas for the youth to become self-reliant. Previously, it was extremely depressing to note the youth power going waste due to loss of direction and lack of facilitation. Those in other political parties who had been boasting of their youth power are yet far away from formulating a working plan for youth whereas the PML-N government has surpassed all other self-styled champions of the youth cause by announcing the Youth Business Loan Scheme that is a total departure from such schemes announced in the past. In the past, such schemes were either laden with complicated procedures and formalities or had been in the grip of corruption mafia that would disburse loans to their favourites or those paying illegal gratification to the lending officials. All those ugly things will not be tolerated anymore; the PM has not only declared it unequivocally but also evolved a mechanism to plug the loopholes. According to the PM, an effective monitoring mechanism has been put in place to keep a check on the loan award process so that merit is ensured. In the first phase, one hundred thousand unemployed youth would be given loans through ballot and “no one, including me, would have the authority to influence the lending process.” What is yet more encouraging and good news for more than half the country’s population i.e women folk, is that 50% of the loans have been allocated for the female youth.
In the present scheme, most of the discrepancies identified in similar systems functional in the past, have been removed and no harsh preconditions have been attached to the youth business loan programme.
Even the repayment plan is quite easy as the loan-securing youth will be given eight-year payback time with first year grace period for repayment at low mark-up rate of eight per cent. The youth applying for loans will have to pay the mark-up of eight per cent while the remaining seven per cent will be paid by the government since total mark-up rate is 15%. Technical and business guidance will also be provided so that the youth be guarded against possible failures of their businesses. For this purpose 55 project pre-feasibilities have been prepared and are available on SMEDA website, according to Maryam Nawaz. But the applicant can also participate in the loan award process on the basis of his/her own business and expertise.
The youth circles throughout the country especially their parents have hailed the announcement made by the prime minister. They have also expressed their gratitude to the prime minister for taking pains to personally supervise the entire loan process for which a honourable figure like Maryam Nawaz has been chosen. Maryam Nawaz, besides having a refined academic background is also known for her leadership abilities that will definitely boost the morale of younger generation. The impression formed is that no official in the departments concerned will be allowed to go for any bungling or malpractice in the youth loan scheme. Maryam Nawaz has special interest in the youth empowerment project. She is on record having stated, “The PM entrusted me with the responsibility of empowering our youth and I gladly accepted because investment in youth is equal to investment in Pakistan’s development.”
The same is Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s vision. The PM had pledged to himself to ameliorate the younger generation’s lot during his electioneering days. According to the PM, “During the election campaign, I witnessed the vigour and enthusiasm that the youth showed and I promised that the government should empower the youth of Pakistan so that they can contribute effectively towards development of the country.”
It is a matter of delight for the entire nation that the PM’s Youth Programme is not only limited to easy loans (although this easy loan scheme is going to bring about an economic revolution). Many other youth empowerment schemes are included in the Programme like, for instance, Micro Interest-free loans programme, Skill development programme, Fee reimbursement for deserving students programme and Training programme. In all, they are six schemes that would tremendously contribute towards the diversified capacity-building of Pakistani youth so as to help them become builders of a strong, prosperous Pakistan. That destination is now very much in sight, given the sagacious prioritization undertaken by the Government of Pakistan under instructions from the prime minister. Well-informed quarters have revealed that although input was taken from different departments and officials, the PM’s Youth Business Loan scheme is purely the prime minister’s brainchild as he was the one who first floated this idea and then started working on it for final launching and implementation. With this combination i.e vision and inspiration drawn from the prime minister, the scheme is going to take off in full swing and yield the desired (positive) results which mean economic benefits and confident, invigorated youth.
Visualize the scenario when a very large section of 60 per cent of Pakistani population i.e the youth, will become providers converting from their status of dependents.
Quoting Maryam Nawaz, Honorary Chairperson of the PM Youth Programme, the hundred-billion-rupee package announced by prime minister for youth’s empowerment and financial independence will convert the youth from dependents to providers.
Once that dream comes true, Pakistan will definitely acquire the status of an economic giant, free from the crutches of foreign aid. There can be no two opinions about this turnaround that is bound to materialize in the foreseeable future. For sure, the youth revolution has taken roots courtesy the wise and timely steps announced by PM Sharif. In fact, the PM has given serious thought to this most important facet of national development. Being already blessed with one of the biggest youth element that is not available to majority nations of the world, Pakistan can get strengthened and grow, in leaps and bounds, provided this most important element of national power (the youth) is given a proper sense of direction, motivation and appropriate and timely facilitation. That has now been done as evidenced from PM’s Business Loan Scheme for Youth.
The prime minister is right in his contention that the government has opened new vistas for the youth to become self-reliant. Previously, it was extremely depressing to note the youth power going waste due to loss of direction and lack of facilitation. Those in other political parties who had been boasting of their youth power are yet far away from formulating a working plan for youth whereas the PML-N government has surpassed all other self-styled champions of the youth cause by announcing the Youth Business Loan Scheme that is a total departure from such schemes announced in the past. In the past, such schemes were either laden with complicated procedures and formalities or had been in the grip of corruption mafia that would disburse loans to their favourites or those paying illegal gratification to the lending officials. All those ugly things will not be tolerated anymore; the PM has not only declared it unequivocally but also evolved a mechanism to plug the loopholes. According to the PM, an effective monitoring mechanism has been put in place to keep a check on the loan award process so that merit is ensured. In the first phase, one hundred thousand unemployed youth would be given loans through ballot and “no one, including me, would have the authority to influence the lending process.” What is yet more encouraging and good news for more than half the country’s population i.e women folk, is that 50% of the loans have been allocated for the female youth.
In the present scheme, most of the discrepancies identified in similar systems functional in the past, have been removed and no harsh preconditions have been attached to the youth business loan programme.
Even the repayment plan is quite easy as the loan-securing youth will be given eight-year payback time with first year grace period for repayment at low mark-up rate of eight per cent. The youth applying for loans will have to pay the mark-up of eight per cent while the remaining seven per cent will be paid by the government since total mark-up rate is 15%. Technical and business guidance will also be provided so that the youth be guarded against possible failures of their businesses. For this purpose 55 project pre-feasibilities have been prepared and are available on SMEDA website, according to Maryam Nawaz. But the applicant can also participate in the loan award process on the basis of his/her own business and expertise.
The youth circles throughout the country especially their parents have hailed the announcement made by the prime minister. They have also expressed their gratitude to the prime minister for taking pains to personally supervise the entire loan process for which a honourable figure like Maryam Nawaz has been chosen. Maryam Nawaz, besides having a refined academic background is also known for her leadership abilities that will definitely boost the morale of younger generation. The impression formed is that no official in the departments concerned will be allowed to go for any bungling or malpractice in the youth loan scheme. Maryam Nawaz has special interest in the youth empowerment project. She is on record having stated, “The PM entrusted me with the responsibility of empowering our youth and I gladly accepted because investment in youth is equal to investment in Pakistan’s development.”
The same is Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s vision. The PM had pledged to himself to ameliorate the younger generation’s lot during his electioneering days. According to the PM, “During the election campaign, I witnessed the vigour and enthusiasm that the youth showed and I promised that the government should empower the youth of Pakistan so that they can contribute effectively towards development of the country.”
It is a matter of delight for the entire nation that the PM’s Youth Programme is not only limited to easy loans (although this easy loan scheme is going to bring about an economic revolution). Many other youth empowerment schemes are included in the Programme like, for instance, Micro Interest-free loans programme, Skill development programme, Fee reimbursement for deserving students programme and Training programme. In all, they are six schemes that would tremendously contribute towards the diversified capacity-building of Pakistani youth so as to help them become builders of a strong, prosperous Pakistan. That destination is now very much in sight, given the sagacious prioritization undertaken by the Government of Pakistan under instructions from the prime minister. Well-informed quarters have revealed that although input was taken from different departments and officials, the PM’s Youth Business Loan scheme is purely the prime minister’s brainchild as he was the one who first floated this idea and then started working on it for final launching and implementation. With this combination i.e vision and inspiration drawn from the prime minister, the scheme is going to take off in full swing and yield the desired (positive) results which mean economic benefits and confident, invigorated youth.
Here I would like to talk about Rajeev Chaba who is the inspiration for many people. He started as a normal engineering student but went on to become an able leader. He has done ME in Mechanical engineering from Madan Mohan Malviya Engineering College in Gorakhpur, to further increase his knowledge he pursued an MBA in Marketing from IIM Bangalore, which is yet another prestigious institutes of India. The knowledge he gained through his education was well spent and contribution to develop motor industry is remarkable.
ReplyDelete