Interest-free overseas job loans for youth

Published June 15, 2026 Updated June 15, 2026 05:59am

LAHORE: Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) and the Bank of Punjab (BoP) have signed an agreement to operationalise the Chief Minister’s Parwaaz Card Scheme for international placement, facilitating financial access for youth seeking overseas employment opportunities, says a release.

The agreement was signed by BoP Chief Digital Officer Nofel Daud and PSDF CEO Ahmed Khan.

The partnership establishes an outcome-based model to remove the barrier of upfront cost of opportunity in overseas employment for Punjab’s skilled youth. Under the scheme, eligible candidates in sectors including construction, retail, caregiving, hospitality, and allied sectors will access interest-free loans of up to Rs1,000,000 to cover pre-departure expenses, enabling a smoother pathway to global employment. The initiative targets 45,000 loan beneficiaries over two years.PSDF is responsible for applicant onboarding, facilitation, and coordination with Overseas Employment Promoters (OEPs), while BoP will manage KYC verification, loan appraisal, approval, disbursement, and repayment.

President BoP Zafar Masud indicated coordination with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to explore early access to Roshan Digital Accounts for Parwaaz Card holders.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2026

Opinion

Editorial

Climate choices
Updated 15 Jun, 2026

Climate choices

The country is confronting increasingly volatile weather patterns with consequences for agriculture, infrastructure, public health and economic planning.
Brief opening
15 Jun, 2026

Brief opening

WE have been here before. Throughout the weekend, there was great anticipation that a tentative framework for peace...
Environmental disaster
15 Jun, 2026

Environmental disaster

IT was a heartbreaking sight. A recent news report in these pages carried a picture of a sea turtle lying half ...
Budget presser
Updated 14 Jun, 2026

Budget presser

If the FBR falters, the government will find itself in hot water sooner rather than later.
Muharram precautions
14 Jun, 2026

Muharram precautions

WITH Muharram due to start next week, the authorities have already begun annual exercises to ensure that the ...
Blood bequests
14 Jun, 2026

Blood bequests

WORLD Blood Donor Day offers a moment of “gratitude, advocacy and renewed commitment” for thalassaemia patients...