Entrepreneurship promotion on cards; KPK govt. launches laon scheme for artisans

Entrepreneurship promotion on cards; KPK govt. launches laon scheme for artisans

Pehawar:  (Wednesday, December 28, 2011) Considering it a step towards promoting entrepreneurship and self employment, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has launched small loan scheme for the artisans affiliated with traditional
art and culture. Initially, the pool money of RS 150 million has been set aside and the loans will be extended through Bank of Khyber in Peshawar division.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information and Culture Mian Iftikhar Hussain told journalists while launching the scheme that initially artisans from 10 categories including brass and copper work, wood-carving, pottery, footwear,
sole-making, straw work, metal work, embroidery, khaddar ‘khamta’ cloth-making and traditional cooking ‘daigmar’ had been selected for the loan.

Mian Iftikhar said the provincial cabinet approved the scheme on May 16, 2011 under which an artisan could get loan ranging from Rs50,000 to Rs70,000. The loan would be returned in 33 installments within three years, the minister added.

“It is a pilot project, which has been started in Peshawar, Charsadda and Nowshera. Later, it will be extended to other districts. It is aimed at reviving the dying art and culture and supporting the artisans so that they could honourably earn livelihood,”
said Mian Iftikhar.

The minister said handmade crafts were high in demand in the international market, but the people affiliated with the traditional art were not encouraged and supported. He said the Awami National Party-led provincial government was committed to reviving the
art and culture of the province, especially the traditional crafts.

“The government has already launched two schemes, Bacha Khan Khpal Rozgar Scheme (BKKRS) and Pakhtunkhwa Hunarmand Rozgar Scheme (PHRS) and the new scheme was especially for the artisans,” he added.

He said the chief minister had assured to increase the funding and extend the scheme to other districts in the second and third phases. “The loan will be provided on two personal guarantees, one an employee of the government or semi-government department and
institution up to grade VIIII. The other guarantor should be a member of the chamber of commerce, skill development institution, doctor, engineer, principal, vice principal or owner of a private educational institution,” Mian Iftikhar said.

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Posted by Fayyaz Yaseen on Dec 28 2011. Filed under Business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry