LAHORE
Punjab Minister for Industries and Commerce Mian Aslam Iqbal said that over 1,000 people have been given easy loans of over Rs750 million so far, benefiting men, women, eunuchs and special people from the scheme.
He said that provision of easy loans under the Punjab Rozgar Scheme is continuing on the directives of the chief minister, according to a statement issued on Thursday.
The minister said that under the Rozgar Scheme, easy loans of Rs100,000 to Rs10 million are being provided. The Punjab Rozgar Scheme will create employment opportunities for 1.6 million people. He said that under the Punjab Green Development Loan Scheme, easy loans are being given on a priority basis while loans for environment friendly initiatives and efficient use of resources are also being provided.
He said the issuance of such loans is an important step towards tackling climate change, a bright future and stabilizing the economy.
The provincial minister was also directed to expedite the process of disbursement of easy loans under the scheme.
Aslam also said the labour laws would be updated to serve both labourers and employers in the province. The minister said a visible change would be seen in every sector of life, adding that labour laws would be updated within the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) mandate and in accordance with relevant rules and regulations to boost labour welfare.
A simple and practical law would be devised for labour welfare, social security and EOBI by consolidating 39 labour laws to expedite labour welfare, he repeated.
Aslam said the labour department has done a great job by bringing all the stakeholders to one table for better legislation regarding employers and employees. The draft law, which will be prepared in consultation with each other, will be useful for both the employer and the employee, he said. The time has come to change the 100 years old archaic labour laws that exploit the working classes, he maintained. “We have to legislate while keeping in mind the employers and employees’ issues,” he continued.
