ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar on Monday said the youth, being the asset of the country, would be fully facilitated to start their businesses.

Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, he said the government’s Kamyab Jawan Program will empower the youth. It will increase immense job opportunities for our people, he added.

On this occasion, Special Assistant for Youth Affairs Usman Dar said Kamyab Jawan program had been started with the purpose to promote entrepreneurship and create job opportunities.

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He was confident that the program would prove to be a complete success story. He said one million youth had applied for the loans under the Kamyab Jawan program in the first 15 days of the launch of the program. Of these, about 600,000 were those who wanted to start a new business. “This program is also unique as about 200, 000 females have also applied for the loan.”

The special assistant said the prime minister will soon distribute cheques amongst the applicants.

Usman Dar said the government was also introducing Skill for All and Internship programmes to enable the youth to stand on their feet.

He said job opportunities would be created both in the government and the private sectors.

On Oct 22, Usman Dar had said the disbursement of loans under Kamyab Jawan Program would be started from December.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, he had said, “The youth have shown immense interest in the program and about 200,000 applications have so far been received.”

He was confident that the program will prove to be a game changer for the development of the country’s economy. He had said every possible measure had been taken to make the program transparent and free from political interference.

The special assistant had said, “In the next phase of the program, we will try to fix the quota for disabled and minorities on the pattern of female share in the program.”