Lahore: Punjab’s Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chaudhry Shafay Hussain, has announced that the provincial government will launch a new Rs300 billion interest-free business loan programme in October 2026 to support entrepreneurship and economic growth.
The announcement was made during a meeting of the Project Steering Committee, chaired by the minister, which reviewed progress on the second phase of the Chief Minister’s Asaan Karobar Finance Scheme.
Managing Director of the Punjab Small Industries Corporation, Mubeen Elahi, briefed the committee on the implementation of the scheme and the progress achieved to date.
Chaudhry Shafay Hussain said that various interest-free loan schemes introduced by the Punjab government had led to a significant increase in commercial and economic activity across the province. Under the Asaan Karobar Finance Scheme and the Asaan Karobar Card Scheme, interest-free loans worth Rs70 billion have so far been disbursed, benefiting a total of 108,371 small and large businesses.
He added that the second phase of the Asaan Karobar Finance Scheme is providing Rs90 billion in interest-free financing. Targeted schemes are also under way for businesses in Central, Northern and Southern Punjab, as well as dedicated export finance initiatives.
According to the minister, 4,462 applicants have so far received interest-free loans amounting to Rs53.7 billion under these programmes.
Chaudhry Shafay Hussain further announced that another major interest-free financing initiative will be launched in October this year. He said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is expected to formally inaugurate the Rs300 billion programme in the coming months.
According to the Punjab government, the new initiative is designed to stimulate business activity, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and create greater economic opportunities across the province.
