PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government formally launched Insaf Rozgar Scheme, a self-employment programme, for youthof newlymergedtribaldistrictsof formerFatahereonThursday.

Chief Minister Mahmood Khan gave sanction letters of loans under the scheme to deserving youth at a ceremony. The programme is aimed at provision of sustainable source of income to unemployed youth.

Addressing the ceremony, Mahmood Khan said that the loans would help youth of merged districts to establish their businesses.

He said that the scheme would not only provide youth with sustainable means of livelihood but would also stir economic activities in the terrorism-struck tribal districts.

The letters were also provided to female youth from the tribal districts who intend to initiate businesses.

The youth from Kurram, Bajaur, Darra Adamkhel, Khyber and other areas, who submitted applications for starting businesses, got the letters.

The loan programme was launched in the area ahead of the elections for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly which are scheduled to be held on July 20.

`Merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a daunting task for the provincial government which has been accomplished successfully. Now the government is focused on mainstreaming the tribal districts for which the initiation of the Insaf Rozgar Scheme is a landmark achievement,` said the chief minister.

He stated that Rs1 billion had been earmarked for the scheme under which 5,500 youth were being provided with loans to set up their own businesses. He appreciated the ef forts of the armed forces and their financial contributions towards the mainstreaming of the newly merged tribal districts.-Bureau Report