Peshawar (Khyber Mail): In a significant step towards empowering the youth of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the provincial government has launched two major initiatives: the Naujwan Program and the Chief Minister Youth Internship Program.
The formal launch event was held at the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar, where Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur inaugurated the initiatives.
During the ceremony, the Chief Minister also launched the Ehsas Naujwan online portal, allowing youth from across the province to apply online for interest-free loans under the Ehsas Naujwan Program.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Department of Youth Affairs, Bank of Khyber, and Akhuwat Microfinance to implement the program.
The Ehsas Naujwan Program, a three-year initiative with a budget of Rs. 3 billion, aims to provide interest-free loans to young entrepreneurs.
The first component of the program, in partnership with the Bank of Khyber, will allocate Rs. 1 billion for clusters of three to five young men aged 18 to 35, offering loans ranging from Rs. 1 million to Rs. 5 million with an eight-year repayment period and a 20-month grace period.
The second component, in collaboration with Akhuwat Microfinance Bank, will provide Rs. 2 billion in loans for small-scale businesses, with amounts ranging from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 500,000. This component includes quotas for young women, special persons, madrassa students, and minorities.
The program is designed as a revolving fund to support continuous new and existing business ventures.
The Chief Minister Youth Internship Program, also launched at the event, will offer internships to 400 students annually, each with a three-month duration and a monthly stipend of Rs. 25,000.
Over three years, 1,200 students will benefit, with opportunities for employment in public and private sectors upon completion.
Eligible candidates must be up to 29 years old with 16 years of education or an equivalent degree recognized by the Higher Education Commission.
Addressing the ceremony, Chief Minister Gandapur emphasized the vision of Imran Khan to empower the nation through self-sufficiency. He highlighted various initiatives, including Ehsaas Naujwan, Ehsaas Hunar, Ehsaas Rozgar, and Ehsaas Apna Ghar, aimed at providing financial independence and affordable housing. Despite financial challenges, the government remains committed to public welfare projects and empowering youth with entrepreneurial opportunities. The Chief Minister stressed the importance of merit-based loan distribution to benefit deserving individuals without discrimination.