PM Shehbaz increases youth loan limit to Rs25 million under business, agriculture schemes

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has increased the maximum individual loan limit under the Prime Minister’s Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Schemes from Rs7.5 million to Rs25 million.

The loans will be offered through easy instalments to help young people establish businesses and pursue agricultural activities.

The decision was made during a meeting chaired by the prime minister to review loan disbursements and the implementation of the schemes. The government has allocated Rs292 billion for youth financing this year, with 30 per cent of the loans to be reserved for women to promote their economic independence.

The prime minister also directed authorities to lower the minimum eligibility age from 21 to 18 years, allowing younger applicants to access financial support.

He instructed the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) to provide business guidance, consultancy and technical assistance to applicants.

According to the briefing, 581,341 young people have received loans worth Rs313.9 billion since January 2023, marking a tenfold increase compared with beneficiaries during the previous decade. During the 2026-27 financial year, around 266,700 young people are expected to receive loans totalling Rs292 billion.

Shehbaz Sharif directed relevant authorities to launch a nationwide awareness campaign to inform young people about the schemes and available opportunities.

He said empowering youth and creating productive employment opportunities remained among the government's priorities.