Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam today attended her first meeting, since her appointment as Chairperson of Prime Minister's Youth Programme, with her father and other top government officials in connection with a loan scheme for youth.
Sharif, who chaired the meeting said, the government's loan scheme for youth would certainly change the lives of millions of people in the country.
He reiterated to ensure transparency, merit and equal distribution in loan schemes for the youth.
Besides Maryam, the Chairperson of Prime Minister's Youth Programme, the meeting was attended by Information and Broadcasting Minister Parvaiz Rasheed, Secretary Finance and other senior officials.
She was appointed to the post in November, purely on honorary basis without receiving any pay or perk for the assignment. She is the focal person with the responsibility to coordinate, manage, finalise and supervise the implementation of the Youth Programme.
The prime minister, according to an official statement, said proportionate equality would be ensured in the distribution of loans to youth, across the country.
He added the youth must be involved to achieve economic revival in the country.
"Economic growth is not possible without promoting small and medium business enterprises," the prime minister said.
"Creating jobs and reviving economic activities through actively involving the youth was my promise with the youth of my country. It is time that we materialize the promises I made with them during election campaigns."
The Premier categorically stated that no laxity and corruption would be tolerated in the execution of the business loans scheme. He added that facilitations counters would be established at banks for assisting the applicants.
Sharif said more than 0.5 million young people will be given business loans in 5 years.
He added that these 0.5 million beneficiaries would certainly improve the lives of millions of families and give a boost to the economic activities in the country.
