At an Asaan Karobar Scheme ceremony, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif announced ambitious economic growth goals. She gave young entrepreneurs interest-free loan cheques and cards and stressed easy procedures to help small enterprises. Industrial zone land allocation, direct family financial aid, and the laptop plan after Ramadan to empower youth are key measures.
Maryam’s ‘Zero Time to Start’ program aims to accelerate loan approvals and boost economic activity. She announced free residential plots for millions throughout Ramadan and interest-free loans for SMEs between Rs 1 million and Rs 3 million. She reinforced her government’s infrastructure development commitment with over 700 roads under construction and major investments in urban cleaning and public transit, including electric buses and trams.
She noted that inflation, which was 38% under the previous government, is currently around 4%. She blamed the past PTI leadership for economic mismanagement and infighting and credited better governance and economic plans for the reversal.
Apart from economic initiatives, Maryam discussed housing schemes where loan installments match normal rents, allowing citizens to purchase homes over time. She lauded the Kisan Card program for agricultural labourers and scholarship initiatives for thousands of students.
Maryam was optimistic about Pakistan’s improving global reputation and tougher merit-based credit distribution mechanisms after these reforms. She concluded by encouraging residents to take advantage of these chances and praying for their success in boosting national economic recovery.
