Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has on Saturday inaugurated "Apna Rozgar Scheme" for providing respectable jobs to the youth of the province. The process of distribution of vehicles on soft terms to 50,000 lucky persons with a huge amount of Rs 31 billion has been formally started under Chief Minister Punjab "Apna Rozgar Scheme". The Chief Minister distributed keys of vehicles among men and women during a ceremony under this scheme.
Addressing the function, Shahbaz Sharif congratulated those fortunate persons getting keys of vehicles under Apna Rozgar Scheme and said that the Punjab government has started the biggest Apna Rozgar Scheme of Pakistan for providing jobs to educated jobless youth under which process of distribution of 50,000 vehicles has been started on merit in a very transparent manner. He also said three years ago, Pakistan Muslim League-N government had distributed 20,000 vehicles among youth worth Rs 10 billion on merit and its recovery rate is 99.99 percent. "Undoubtedly, the previous scheme remained successful and the existing scheme has also received encouraging response," he added.
According to him, under previous scheme, Bolan and Mehran vehicles were given while under the existing scheme, commercial vehicles Ravi and Bolan are being distributed. Apna Rozgar scheme will play an important role in the speedy development of the province, which will not only result in generation of thousands of new job opportunities but target of economic development will also be achieved. Under this scheme, not only 50,000 persons but 50,000 families will earn respectable livelihood and share burden of the society. Overall more than 300,000 persons will directly benefit from this scheme whereas thousands of families will be benefited economically indirectly. This scheme has a number of economic fruits and will prove helpful in the progress of the province.
Shahbaz Sharif said like former schemes of Punjab government, transparency and merit has been upheld in Apna Rozgar Scheme. He said supremacy of transparency and merit has been a hallmark of the Punjab government during the last six and a half years. He said no vehicle has been allotted on nepotism and its proof has been given by lucky persons themselves in their talks. "This is the important feature and success of this scheme and its credit goes to political and administrative team of the Punjab government. Those obtaining vehicles will pay monthly instalments on soft terms, which will be Rs 10,000 for Bolan and Rs 9000 for Ravi. Those included in the list of receiving vehicles through transparent balloting will not have to pay even a single penny under the head of service charges rather the Punjab government will bear all service charges," he added.
"Apna Rozgar is another revolutionary step of the PML-N government regarding empowerment of youth of the province. The task with regard to further empowerment of youth and generation of new job opportunities for them has been given to Chairman Planning and Development and it is our resolve that youth will be made an important part of the economic development through made empowerment," he added.
Referring to Land Record Management Information System, the Chief Minister said this project of Rs 14 billion will be completed in 36 districts by June 2015 due to which patwari culture will be eliminated. He said patwari culture has been eliminated in those districts where Land Record Management Information System is working regularly and ownership deed and other documents are being provided on payment of Rs 50 only in 30 minutes. "No patwari can ask for bribe after the introduction of Land Record Management Information System and it is hoped that this obsolete system will be abolished this year," he added.
Mentioning revolutionary steps of Punjab government for empowering youth, Shahbaz Sharif said the total volume of Punjab Educational Endowment Fund has reached Rs 12 billion and more than 85,000 talented but poorest boys and girls are studying in prestigious educational institutions with the annual income of Rs 2 billion of this fund. He expressed the hope that the volume of this fund will reach Rs 20 billion by 2018 and 150,000 boys and girls will be getting education in prestigious educational institutions through educational scholarships.
"Similarly, interest free small loans have been given to thousands of families from Rs 4 billion under Self-Employment Scheme so that they could earn their honourably. Women are provided loans on priority basis under this scheme. The role of women, who are more than 50 percent of the population, is of great importance in the development of the country. Pakistani women should come into practical field and play their due role for the development and prosperity of the country. The Punjab government has not only carried out necessary legislation for empowering women but also started separate programmes for them," he added.
Referring to the energy crisis, the Chief Minister said it is a big challenge however solid steps are being taken for coping with energy crisis. He said the first and the biggest solar project of 100 megawatt of the country have been completed, which will start generating electricity within next few days. "However, we have to generate thousands of megawatt electricity," he added.
According to him, he is going to visit China within a few days for energy projects where talks will be held with Chinese officials for generating energy through coal, solar and wind, and expressed the hope that a number of electricity projects will start production with the co-operation of China during next three years. The federal government will set up projects of 2400 megawatt through LNG in Punjab while the Punjab government will establish projects of 1200 megawatt through LNG for which work has been started and 3600 megawatt additional electricity will be generated during next two and a half year.
Expressing his views about terrorism, Shahbaz Sharif said the incidents of Yuhanabad are highly tragic and condemnable. He expressed the hope that the menace of terrorism will be eliminated through collective efforts and force of unity. He said elimination of terrorism is vital for the progress and prosperity of the country. "That is why, all out resources are being provided for the elimination of terrorism," he added.
Shahbaz Sharif appreciated the performance of MPAs Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Sheikh Allaudin, President Bank of Punjab, Chairman Planning and Development, Secretaries of Transport, Finance and other concerned officials regarding Apna Rozgar Scheme and congratulated them.
Spokesman Punjab government Zaeem Hussain Qadri, Parliamentary Secretary Transport Nawaz Chohan, MPAs Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Sh. Allaudin, Chairman Planning and Development, Secretaries of Transport, Finance, Information, President Bank of Punjab, Commissioner Lahore Division and other senior officials were present on the occasion.
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