QUETTA: The Balochistan government has decided to introduce small interest-free loans under Chief Minister’s Self-Employment Scheme to eradicate joblessness in the province.

Briefing reporters about the decisions taken by the provincial cabinet at its meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani, on Friday, Finance Minister Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi said the government would launch a Rs1.6 billion micro-financing programme in collaboration with Akhuwat Foundation.

“The provincial government has decided to work with Akhuwat Foundation to eliminate unemployment,” he said.

Chairman of Akhuwat Foundation Dr Amjad Saqib had given a briefing about the programme, he added.

Mr Buledi said Akhuwat Foundation, with the cooperation of the provincial governments, had given around Rs100bn interest-free loans in other provinces and the rate of recovery was over 99 per cent.

Rs1.6 billion micro-financing programme to be launched in collaboration with Akhuwat Foundation

“The foundation has granted loans to about 10,000 people in seven districts of Balochistan,” Dr Amjad Saqib said.

The finance minister said the cabinet had approved the scheme which would be started soon to pave way for starting self-employment in the province.

He said the government was taking revolutionary steps to deal with unemployment and provide maximum job opportunities.

Mr Buledi said the cabinet approved providing land for the construction of a shipyard in Gwadar in partnership with the federal ministry of defence production.

He said a committee headed by the chief secretary had been formed to hold talks with the ministry of defence production to determine the share of Balochistan in the shipyard project.

The minister said the meeting was informed that with the establishment of the shipyard around 15,000 jobs would be created for local people.

He said the ministry of defence production would set up a human resource training centre and a hospital and it would provide other facilities under social sector development.

Mr Buledi said the government would provide 1,000 tractors to farmers to uplift the provincial agriculture sector.

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2019