Provincial Minister for Trade and Industry Mian Aslam Iqbal has said that the Punjab government is giving final shape to a programme of providing soft loans to skilled youth and loan markup support scheme is also being started to give soft loans for the promotion of small scale industry. The Minister stated this while talking to the oath taking ceremony of the newly-elected office-bearers of the All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Taajran (APAT) here on Wednesday.
"Under this initiative, credit guarantee scheme is also being started. These schemes will help to generate enormous employment opportunities for talented youth," he added.
Criticizing bad policies of previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Mian Aslam claimed that the Punjab government is currently facing a deficit of Rs 1200 billion which shows that industries in the province are experiencing difficulties. "We could have had taken loan but our government believes that it is not the solution of problems. We are strengthening the national economy by increasing exports," the Minister claimed.
He said the trading community was very vital in strengthening economic conditions of the country, adding that solving their genuine problems was the responsibility of the government. "Our doors will remain open for the traders and their real issues will be solved on priority basis."