PM’s Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Scheme 2023

In order to facilitate youth during these troubling times, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has re-launched the PM Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Scheme 2023 (PMYB&ALS) under the Prime Minister’s Youth Program to promote self-employment and entrepreneurship.

Under the PM Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Scheme 2023 (PMYB&ALS), the people falling in the age group of 21 and 45 years will be to avail loan of up to Rs. 7.5 million. Furthermore, the Government has set a lower age limit of 18 years in case of Information Technology (IT) and E-Commerce businesses.

These loans will actually help to promote job creation rather than a job seeking environment among the country’s youth. Moreover, the the agriculture loans under the scheme will help rural youth across the country to bring innovation in farming.

The PM Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Scheme 2023 also has a 25% quota for women and this scheme is being dubbed as a milestone in the economic empowerment of the youth of the country.

With loans up to Rs 7.5 million and a 25% quota for women, this scheme is a milestone in the economic empowerment of the youth of the country.
For more information and to apply, visit: https://t.co/x311HjUJtw#PMYouthLoans #PM4Youth

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) January 24, 2023

PM’s Address

Prime Minister’s (PM) Youth Business & Agriculture Loan Scheme (PMYB&ALS)

The Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (PMJK-YES) was introduced during the tenure of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and the incumbent government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has revised the entire scheme.

The Government of Pakistan, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, is relaunching the Prime Minister's Youth Business and Agricultural Loan Scheme to support young entrepreneurs and their ideas. pic.twitter.com/dZ1vzUQrqC

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) January 24, 2023

First off, the incumbent government has renamed the scheme to Prime Minister’s Youth Business & Agriculture Loan Scheme (PMYB&ALS) and the key features that have been approved by the Government of Pakistan are detailed below.

Eligibility Criteria

1. All citizens of Pakistan holding CNIC, aged between 21 and 45 years with entrepreneurial potential are eligible.
2. For IT/E-Commerce related businesses, the lower age limit will be 18 years and at least matriculation or equivalent education will be required.
   Above age limit condition is applicable on individuals and sole proprietors. In case of all other forms of business including partnerships and companies, only one of the owners, partners or directors must be in the age bracket prescribed above.
3. Small and Medium Enterprises (startups and existing businesses) owned by youth as per above mentioned age brackets are also eligible.
4. In case of agriculture, farmers’ classification as per SBP’s “Indicative Credit Limits & Eligible Items for Agriculture Financing 2020” will be applicable.

Loan Size

Size of loan is segregated into 3 tiers, as under:

• Tier 1 (T1): Up to Rs 0.5 million
• Tier 2 (T2): Above Rs 0.5 million and up to Rs 1.5 million
• Tier 3 (T3): Above Rs 1.5 million and up to Rs 7.5 million

Loan Type

• Term loans/ working capital loans including murabaha and leasing/financing of machinery and locally manufactured vehicles for commercial use.
• Only one vehicle per borrower is allowed. A borrower in food franchise and distribution business may avail financing for more than one vehicle.
• Up to 65% of total financing limit can be availed for Civil Works.
• For agriculture, production and development loans are eligible.

Loan Tenor

The loan tenors under the revised PM’s Kamyab Jawan Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (now Prime Minister’s (PM) Youth Business & Agriculture Loan Scheme) are detailed below:

• T1 – Up to 3 years and repayment will be in equal monthly installments. However, in case of crop loan, tenor will be up to 1 year and repayment will be lump sum on or before maturity, tied-up with the crop cycle.
• T2 & T3 – Up to 8 years for long term/development loans with maximum grace period of up to one year.

For working capital/production loans and murabaha under T2 and T3, tenor will be up to 5 years. Meanwhile, banks will have the option to lend working capital/production loans wherein only markup will be payable during first 2 years and thereafter both principal along with the markup will be paid in next 3 years making it total repayment period of up to 5 years.

Debt – Equity Ratio

For new businesses, the debt or equity ratio under T1 and T2 are 90:10, while debt or equity ratio under T3 is 80:20. Meanwhile, the borrower’s contribution of equity would be in the form of cash or immovable property and will be required after approval of loan.

For Existing Businesses debt or equity ratio is Nil for all tiers.

Bank Rate

• T1 – KIBOR+9% which includes wholesale lenders margin of KIBOR+1% and Microfinance Banks (MFBs)/Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) margin of 8%.
• T2 & T3 – KIBOR+3%

Six months KIBOR offer will be used for calculation of mark-up subsidy.

End User Rate

• T1: 0%
• T2: 5%
• T3: 7%

Security Requirements

Security arrangement will be as under:

• T1: Clean (secured only by personal guarantee of the borrower).
• In addition, rules & regulations of SECP/SBP shall be complied with by MFBs/MFIs.
• T2: Clean (secured only by personal guarantee of the borrower).
• T3: As per banks policy.

Vehicle(s) financed under T1, T2 & T3 to serve as collateral.

Risk Mitigation

Government will bear credit losses (principal portion only) on the disbursed portfolio of the banks as under:

• T1: Up to 50% which includes 40% for wholesale lenders on pari-passu basis and 10% for MFBs/MFIs on first loss basis
• T2: Up to 25% on first loss basis
• T3: Up to 10% on first loss basis

Number of Loans Per Borrower

A customer may avail maximum two loans (including one long term and one short term loan) within overall maximum financing limit of Rs 7.5 million.

In case of agriculture, a customer may avail one production loan and one development loan within overall maximum financing limit of Rs 7.5 million.

Sectors and Products

All sectors and products. Moreover, in case of agriculture, all crop and non-crop sectors (including crop production, livestock, poultry, fishery, dairy etc.) are also eligible.

Executing Agency (EA)

All commercial and Islamic banks are advised to come on board.

Banks/DFIs are encouraged to participate as wholesale lenders for providing liquidity to MFBs/MFIs for onward lending under T1.

The loan applications processing and disbursement under T1 will only be made through MFBs/MFIs to be selected by the respective wholesale lenders.

Focus on Women

According to the details, 25% of the loans under Prime Minister’s (PM) Youth Business & Agriculture Loan Scheme (PMYB&ALS) will be given to females.

Allocation in Budget

Finance Division shall allocate funds for the revised PM’s Kamyab Jawan Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (YES) in each fiscal year’s budget as per estimates provided by SBP. Payment will be made on submission of consolidated claims of all banks by the SBP on quarterly basis.

Online Application Form on PM Youth Portal

For effective monitoring, online application form is prescribed through PM Youth Program (PMYP) Portal. The Form would be both in English and Urdu as provided on the portal.

The purpose of the portal is to provide a centralized platform through which applicants would be able to apply directly to the relevant banks. The portal will be hosted and controlled by National Information Technology Board, Ministry of IT and Telecommunication.

Only authorized stakeholders for specific purposes will have an access to the portal e.g. individuals for the purpose of applying for loans; banks for the purpose of receiving applications; SMEDA for providing their hand-holding/guidance support wherever necessary and PM Youth Office for retrieving information for monitoring purpose.

Moreover, external audit of the portal from expert IT auditors will be conducted on annual basis to ensure that online portal is used by the concerned stakeholders for intended purpose only and unauthorized use of the online portal, if any, is identified in a timely manner.

Turn Around / Processing Time

The processing time will not exceed 45 days and will be stated clearly in the application form. Non-refundable form processing fee will be Rs. 100/- inclusive of NADRA online CNIC verification fee.

Monitoring

SBP will devise a mechanism in conjunction with Finance Division and banks on monitoring the subsidy budget and setting triggers.

SBP will also publish consolidated information about the loans extended under the scheme for information of the public on quarterly basis on its website.

Geographical Distribution

The revised Prime Minister’s (PM’s) Kamyab Jawan Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (YES) or PM’s Youth Business & Agriculture Loan Scheme (PMYB&ALS) will be provided to the whole of Pakistan.

In case of Balochistan, at least one branch of NBP will be designated per Division.

Additional Measures

Executing Agencies should ensure following additional measures:

• Criteria for assessing entrepreneurial potential should be developed and implemented.
• In case of loan for existing businesses, a robust independent verification mechanism may be introduced to ensure proper utilization of loans.
• For new businesses, a robust mechanism for ongoing monitoring of the loans’ utilization should be developed and implemented.
• A comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework may be developed to measure the impact of the scheme, particularly direct jobs created by the beneficiaries.
• The Prime Minister (Youth Affairs) Office may hire a firm for audit, evaluation and monitoring of the scheme.

The banks/DFIs/MFBs have been advised by the SBP to gear up their systems for successful implementation of this scheme and to avoid any misuse of the scheme.

Eligible borrowers may apply for loans on PM Youth Portal immediately after formal launch of the scheme by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Read more: Punjab Govt & Akhuwat Foundation to Provide House Loans to Low-Income People.

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