Prime Minister's Loan Scheme Limit Raised From Rs7.5 Million To Rs25 Million

Youth are Pakistan's most valuable asset, and the government is committed to empowering them, utilizing their potential and providing them with dignified employment opportunities by helping them stand on their own feet, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Nov, 2026) A high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif was held to review the provision of loans to young people under the Prime Minister's Youth Business Loan Scheme and Prime Minister's Youth Agriculture Loan Scheme, as well as progress on their implementation. The meeting took historic and important decisions to empower young people, promote business activities and increase their participation in the agriculture sector. During the meeting, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif announced an economic package for young people, raising the personal loan limit under the Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Schemes from Rs7.5 million to Rs25 million. The loans will be provided in easy installments to financially support young people in launching large-scale commercial and agricultural projects. The prime minister announced that Rs292 billion in total funds had been allocated this year for providing loans to young people under the schemes. Shehbaz Sharif directed that 30 percent of the loans under the programme be allocated for women, providing them with maximum opportunities to participate in business activities and achieve financial independence. He also directed that the minimum age for young people seeking loans be reduced from 21 to 18, enabling them to start businesses at an early age alongside or immediately after their education and play an active role in agricultural activities. For practical guidance of young people, the prime minister directed the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority to provide not only financial resources but also all possible support for starting new businesses, including business consultancy, market guidance and technical assistance. He also directed the relevant authorities to conduct a widespread nationwide awareness campaign about the schemes, available opportunities and government initiatives so that the maximum number of young people in remote areas could benefit from these facilities. A detailed briefing at the meeting stated that 581,341 young people had been provided loans from January 2023 to date, representing 10 times more progress than in the previous 10 years. During this period, loans totaling Rs313.9 billion had been disbursed. An estimated 266,700 young people will receive additional loans worth Rs292 billion during 2026-27, and work on the initiative is progressing rapidly. It was learned that Federal Minister for Finance Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Prime Minister's Special Assistant for Youth Affairs Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan and Prime Minister's Special Assistant for Political Affairs Talha Burki attended the important and detailed consultative meeting and briefed participants on progress in the relevant sectors. At the conclusion, the prime minister reiterated that young people are Pakistan's most valuable asset and that the government is fully committed to empowering them, utilizing their potential and providing them with dignified and productive employment opportunities by helping them stand on their own feet.