ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Thursday said that promises made during the election campaign with the youth and low-income groups of the society would be fulfilled.

Besides other schemes, he also directed to initiate the “Prime Minister's Laptop Scheme” at the federal level.

The prime minister, while chairing a high-level meeting at the PM House, directed officials to initiate programmes and schemes targeting lower strata of society and youth, especially the educated, at the earliest.

The meeting was told that the Prime Minister's Micro Finance Scheme and Prime Minister's Scheme for Small Business Loans would be directed towards the poor sections of society.

It is through these schemes that small loans will be given to the poor for businesses and this they would have to repay in a period of 5 to 7 years. The meeting was further told that almost 100,000 people would benefit from these schemes.

Under the Youth Training Programme, qualified youth, both from the public and private sector universities and colleges, would be selected for the internship programme. Prime Minister Sharif emphasized for inclusion of qualified youth from FATA and Balochistan in the programme.

Under the Youth Skills Development Programme, skills would be imparted to the youth of the country which would help them in obtaining better jobs.

The premier also directed that a scheme for poor students by the name of Prime Minister's Scheme for Reimbursement of Fee for less-privileged be initiated so that no one remains without education because of cost involved in it.

He also directed to initiate low-cost housing programme and further directed that preference be given to underprivileged sections of the society.

In order to ensure transparency, merit and fairness, independent experts and relevant professionals should be included in the committees tasked to execute these schemes, said the prime minister.

Opinion

Respite needed

Respite needed

All one can fear is a familiar accounting exercise that aims to extract a few more rupees from a narrow, weary economic base.

Editorial

Soft on traders
08 Jun, 2026

Soft on traders

THE Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs200m has been designed as a ‘pragmatic...
Ceasefire in name
Updated 08 Jun, 2026

Ceasefire in name

Both sides accuse the other of violating the truce that was supposed to halt the conflict in April, yet neither appears willing to abandon negotiations altogether.
Damaged childhoods
08 Jun, 2026

Damaged childhoods

CHILD abuse is so prevalent that the UN ranked Pakistan as the least safe country for children. Even so, more than...
JAAC ban
Updated 07 Jun, 2026

JAAC ban

Though the JAAC’s demands are open to scrutiny, banning any political organisation — as long as it remains committed to peaceful activism — is undemocratic.
GB election
Updated 07 Jun, 2026

GB election

It is important that whichever party ultimately forms the government puts the needs of the people of GB above everything else.
ODI win
07 Jun, 2026

ODI win

AT last, the Pakistan cricket team had something to celebrate: a One-day International series victory against...