Prime Minister's Fee Reimbursement for Poor

With the aim of encouraging pursuit of higher education, the scheme will provide scholarships for post graduate degrees (MA, MSc or higher level) to students, male and female, belonging to remote and under-privileged areas of the country.
The tuition fee of the program selected by the scholarship holder will be financed under this scheme and paid directly to the relevant university.

Eligibility Criteria

All students, male and female, registered in a Masters/Ph.D program in an HEC approved public sector educational institution are eligible to apply to the scheme.

Geographical Spread

Students domiciled in interior Sindh, Southern Punjab (Divisions of Multan, Bahawalpur and DG Khan), Balochistan, less developed areas of KP (Malakand, Kohistan and DI Khan), GB and FATA are eligible to apply for the scheme.

Average Tuition Fees

The average annual tuition fee to be financed under the scheme is Rs.40,000.

Total Number

A total of 30,000 students will receive scholarships.

Budget Allocation FY 2013-14

An annual budget of Rs.1.2 Billion has been allocated to the scheme for the financial year 2013-2014.

Executing agency

Higher Education Commission (HEC) would be the executing agency for the scheme. The Ministry of Education and Trainings will collaborate and be responsible for its implementation on the ground.

Prime Minister's Youth Skills Development

The Youth Skills Development Scheme is aimed at providing vocational training to unemployed young individuals for acquiring productive skills for gainful employment.

Eligibility criteria:

Young men and women, who have received middle level education (8th Grade) and are maximum 25 years of age are eligible beneficiaries of the scheme.

Geographical spread:

The scheme has nationwide outreach. It is believed that outcome of such schemes shall not be restricted by factors such as provincial or regional affiliation.

Fees support:

The government would support a fee equivalent to or less than Rs.3,000 per month for a duration of six months.

Stipend:

A monthly stipend of Rs.2,000 for six months would be paid to each beneficiary of the scheme.

Number of Trainees:

As estimated, 25,000 individuals will benefit from the scheme.

Budget Allocation FY 2013-14:

Rs.800 Million have been allocated to the scheme in the Financial Year 2013-2014 Budget.

Executing agency:

NAVTTC/Ministry of Education and Trainings would be the central executing agency of the scheme. Provincial TEVTAs and the Federal Government Skills Training Institutes that are to work in collaboration with the central executing agency, will be responsible for designing the program and the final evaluation form.

Training program:

Standardized training modules of trades with a global demand will be offered. The duration of each will be six months.

Prime Minister's Youth Training Scheme

Under this scheme, young individuals with 16 years of education from recognized institutions will be provided on-the-job- training/internships at private and public sector offices. It is aimed that professional development would equip them with abilities to get job opportunities in the country or abroad.

Eligibility criteria:

Graduates with minimum 16 years of education from HEC approved educational institutions and of age not more than 25 years (26 for less-developed areas) are eligible to apply. 

Geographical Spread:

The geographic outreach of the scheme is not restricted. Individuals fulfilling the eligibility criteria can apply from across Pakistan.

Stipend:

A monthly stipend of Rs.10,000 shall be paid to each selected applicant for a period of 12 months.

Number of interns:

50,000 interns would be hired under the operations of the scheme.

Budget Allocation FY 2013-14:

A budget of Rs.4.0 billion has been allocated to the scheme for the financial year 2013-2014.

Executing agency:

A top class management consulting firm/university from the private sector in collaboration with the Government will be responsible for the design, placement of internees and their periodic evaluation.

Partnership with the private sector would increase financial transparency, ensure selection on merit and produce more efficient outcomes/results.

Training program:

Focal points in each private and public office will be responsible for ensuring effective use of the internees services.

Areas of training:

In addition to government offices on local, provincial and federal levels, all leading firms from the private and development sector will be offered services of the internees.

Prime Minister's Youth Business Loans

Prime Minister’s ‘Youth Business Loan’, for young entrepreneurs between the age group of 21 – 45 years, is designed to provide subsidized financing at 8.0% service charges per annum for nearly one hundred thousand (100,000) beneficiaries, through designated financial institutions namely National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and First Women Bank Ltd. (FWBL).

Small business loan with tenure up to 8 years, with first year grace period, and a debt : equity of 90 : 10 will be disbursed to SME beneficiaries across Pakistan, covering; Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwah, Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). It has a 50% quota for women and 5% quota for families of Shaheeds, Widows and Disabled persons.

Forms are available at branches of all participating banks for free and you need to submit your form with a valid copy of your CNIC and your business plan.

Pre-feasibilities as Guidance for Business plan

SMEDA has taken the initiative of developing pre-feasibility studies in fifteen sectors, and as per directions of the Prime Minister, has made them available to new start up SMEs, through the SMEDA website, for the promotion of an entrepreneurial culture in Pakistan. To date, our website has recorded more than 117,000 downloads of the published pre-feasibility reports.

These pre-feasibility studies provide a general understanding of the proposed business, and are structured like a business plan. However, to assist the prospective entrepreneurs / loan applicants, SMEDA will provide a template for business plan preparation and requisite guidelines for the loan applicants, as soon as the loan application forms are made available by the participating banks on their respective websites.


 

Brief description	Prime Minister’s Business Loans will focus on unemployed talented youth of Pakistan, irrespective of location and background looking for establishing new enterprises.
Eligibility criteria	All young men/women, Pakistani citizens with a valid CNIC. Age 21 – 45 Years.  Entrepreneurial potential.
Focus on women	50% of loans will go to women.
Debt-Equity ratio	90:10 with tenor of up to 8 years; 1st year grace period and then easy monthly installments for 7 years.
Pricing	8% fixed for borrower but government will pay the difference of 7% and any other charges
Refinancing	SBP to explore providing 50% refinance at the risk of participating banks
Risk mitigation	Government will share 50% of losses subject to a maximum of 10% of the loan amount
Number of Loans	100,000 in fiscal year 2013-14
Size of Loan	Rs.0.1 – 2.0 Million
Executing agency	NBP and First Women Bank under the guidance and supervision of SBP. Forms are available across Pakistan on all branches or online
Sectors and Products	All sectors. Standardized schemes/projects/ undertakings will be designed by SMEDA, projects designed by private sector service provider or individuals themselves.