PM Raises Youth Loan Limit to Rs250 Million, Lowers Minimum Age to 18

Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has raised the loan limit under the Prime Minister’s Youth Business Loan Scheme and the Prime Minister’s Youth Agriculture Loan Scheme from Rs75 million to Rs250 million.

New directives

The minimum age for obtaining loans has been lowered from 21 to 18 years. The Prime Minister has also ordered that 30 per cent of loans under the scheme be earmarked for women.

The meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister, discussed providing business opportunities to young people, increasing their participation in the agricultural sector, and making the financial support system more effective.

The Prime Minister said young people are Pakistan’s most valuable asset. He said the government is committed to empowering them and providing dignified, productive employment opportunities.

He directed that loans of up to Rs250 million be provided to young people for business and agricultural activities on easy instalments. The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) was directed to provide support from the start of a business through to its successful completion.

Relevant authorities were also directed to run a nationwide awareness campaign so that young people know about the schemes, the loan procedures and the facilities available.

Meeting briefing

The briefing said that since January 2023, loans have been provided to 581,341 young people, ten times the number over the previous ten years. During this period, a total of Rs313.9 billion in loans has been disbursed.

For the 2026-27 fiscal year, loans totalling Rs292 billion are estimated to be provided to 266,700 young people. The Prime Minister praised the efforts of Federal Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb and his team.

The meeting was attended by Federal Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Talha Barki, and relevant officials.