The Punjab government has announced a new interest-free loan scheme aimed at supporting women who want to start or grow small businesses, particularly in smaller cities where access to financing is limited.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said the goal of easy financing is to create a business-friendly environment across Punjab. She has emphasized that schemes such as Asaan Karobar Finance and the Asaan Karobar Card are designed to support small businesses, which she described as the backbone of the urban economy.
Punjab Industries and Commerce Minister Chaudhry Shafay Hussain said the Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC) will launch the scheme within the next two months. Under the program, women who have graduated from Women Business Incubation Centers or are working as skilled artisans will be eligible for interest-free loans of up to Rs 500,000.
Speaking during a meeting with a delegation of the Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WCCI) Gujrat at PSIC House, the minister said the initiative is meant to remove financial hurdles that often prevent women from turning skills into sustainable businesses. He noted that many women have the ability and training to run enterprises but struggle to access affordable credit.
Shafay Hussain assured the delegation that issues raised by women entrepreneurs would be addressed on a priority basis. He said women’s participation in industry and commerce is essential for long-term economic growth and cannot be treated as secondary.
The announcement builds on an ongoing, chief minister-led financing initiative that has already completed its first phase. During this phase, more than 4,200 individuals received interest-free loans amounting to Rs 16.31 billion. Of this, 203 women entrepreneurs were provided Rs 1.82 billion to help them launch or expand their businesses.
According to the chief minister, when small businesses grow, they not only secure livelihoods for workers but also strengthen local markets and communities. She also highlighted that Punjab has vast untapped business potential, especially among women, which the government aims to bring into the formal economy.