Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday launched the first phase of the "Kamyab Jawan Program" for young people across the country to support them through technical and financial assistance.
The prime minister, while addressing the inauguration ceremony in Islamabad, announced that Rs100 billion had been allocated for youth loans under the program. He said that of the total amount, 25 billion rupees have been allocated to women.
Prime Minister Imran announced that loans worth up to Rs100,000 will be interest free, while loans in two other categories will be concessional loans.
The prime minister added that one million young people will be provided under the program.
"We have young people, they are our power but unfortunately [we are lacking in] "he said, adding that Rs10bn will be used to teach skills to 100,000 young people. Under the program, the prime minister announced, 100 laboratories will be established for distance learning.
The program will also organize internships through which 25,000 young people will be connected to industries, he said.
Speaking about religious seminars, Prime Minister Imran said that 500 laboratories will also be established in seminars. "This is the first government that has taken [such] initiatives We will consider the seminary students as our own children and provide them with scientific education, "he said, adding that the government has interacted with religious academics for educational reforms.
"We will try to make our education systems uniform," he said after noting that three educational systems – half English, half Urdu and seminars – currently work in the country. He also said that 2,000 teachers will be sent abroad for international training.
The prime minister also announced that a national youth development foundation is being established for young people across the country to interact and exchange knowledge and opinions. "The program will be followed by the Office of the Prime Minister," he said.
"I assure you that the merit will be guaranteed in this program. We will provide loans even to the people of Fazlur Rehman, if they meet the merit," said Prime Minister Imran, referring to the head of the JUI-F who has promised to carry out a anti-government protest march later this month.
"I know this is the first assembly that is running without diesel. I won't talk much about it, "he joked, referring to Rehman.
Addressing the participants of the ceremony, he reminded them that merit is the most important issue for Pakistan's future.
"Nations that have merit-based systems progress in this world," he said, adding that the West progressed in the world because of its merit-based democracy. He said he had learned from Islamic history that the Muslim world entered a downward spiral because Muslim empires were following bloodlines, rather than democracy.
"When the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb passed away, a quarter of the world's total wealth was in India. The Mughal empire, then world power, fell because after Aurangzeb, there was no capable king in the bloodline," said the first Minister. adding that in a democracy, leadership is presented by merit and not based on the bloodline.
Prime Minister Imran recalled that Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah had advised the nation to adhere to merit and refrain from corruption.
He promised that the government will bring meritocracy and overcome corruption as it progresses. He advised the participants of the ceremony "to dream big and think big".
"Always remember that great humans are those who dream big and think big. Great humans not only think of themselves but also of others."
Citing the inspiration of the example of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), the prime minister said there will be no discrimination against minorities in naya Pakistan.
"I have learned Madina's story. Change does not happen at once; it takes time. There is no button to press to change," he said.
"Do not underestimate the power of truth, it will give you strength," he advised the young generation of the country.
Prime Minister Imran said "some people are trying to defy taxes; they want facilities but they don't want to pay taxes, we have to avoid that mentality."
"If we want to become a nation with high self-esteem, we will have to pay taxes," he said.
He said the last 12 months were "the worst moment" he faced in his political career, but he assured the nation that the good times are ahead.
Earlier, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Youth Affairs, Usman Dar, said the Kamyab Jawan Program has been developed to allow the country's youth to prosper.
"I am happy because the program is the first step in fulfilling the promise of the ITP for the prosperity of young people," he said.
He said that according to the prime minister's instructions, the program is completely transparent and based on merit. "To ensure transparency, the entire program is available on a digital platform," he said, adding that a scorecard based on artificial intelligence has been developed to run the program.
According to Dar, the program focuses on guaranteeing employment opportunities for young people and providing them with appropriate platforms to excel.
The program is supported by the United Nations Development Program and no tax is incurred on people, Dar said earlier in a press conference.
Under the program, the government will also design a cutting-edge digital platform to support young people.
Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1511382/pm-imran-inaugurates-kamyab-jawan-programme-for-youth-uplift