Over Rs18 bn disbursed under PM's Youth Business Loan Scheme: Senate informed

ISLAMABAD: The Senate was informed on Wednesday that over Rs18 billion have been disbursed among youth under the Prime Minister’s Youth Business Loan Scheme.

To a query during question hour, Minister for Federal Education and Training, Baligh-ur-Rehman said that those loans were given under two categories.

He said smaller loans were given to youth with zero interest rate, while on big loans, 6 per cent service charges were charged for loans up to Rs2 million.

The education minister said the government itself paid interest on those loans to respective banks to encourage and facilitate young entrepreneurs.

To another question, Baligh-ur-Rehman said the government had enacted Anti-Money Laundering Act to check illegal transaction of money.

He said law enforcement agencies had registered a number of cases on the charges of money laundering, which were at different stages of investigation and prosecution.

The minister said National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Anti Narcotics Force (ANF), FIA and FBR had been authorized to investigate and prosecute cases regarding money laundering.

Responding to a calling attention notice regarding discrepancy in the figures of Census, Minister for Statistics Kamran Michael said Pakistan Bureau of Statistics counted each and every individual of the country during recent census.

Responding to another calling attention notice regarding fire at Awami Markez Islamabad.

Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the entire record of China-Pakistan-Economic-Corridor is safe at its Secretariat in the planning ministry.

The Minister said no crucial record was burnt in the fire.

Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal informed the House that all the state institutions are very much aware of the challenges being faced by the country.

Responding to a point of public importance, he said Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the National Security Committee and the Army Chief are aware of the every threats and challenges to Pakistan.

The Minister said that foes of Pakistan are not digesting our economic stability, our nuclear capability, and fruits of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.

He said Pakistan is a peace loving country and wants to work with all the world countries for regional peace and development.