Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has increased the maximum personal loan limit under the Prime Minister’s Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Schemes from Rs7.5 million to Rs25 million, and lowered the minimum eligibility age from 21 to 18 years.
The prime minister announced the changes while chairing a review meeting on Sunday on the implementation of the two schemes. The loans will be provided in easy instalments, and Rs292 billion has been allocated this year to finance young people’s business and agricultural ventures under the programmes, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
The prime minister also directed that 30 per cent of the loans be reserved for women, to help them achieve economic independence and encourage their participation in business and agricultural activities.
For the financial year 2026-27, the government estimates that loans worth Rs292 billion will be provided to 266,700 young people under the two schemes. The prime minister directed the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) to provide all possible assistance to young applicants under the schemes.
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