PM lifts personal loan cap to Rs25m under youth schemes

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has increased the maximum personal loan available through the Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Schemes to Rs25m from Rs7.5mn, Mettis Global reported on November 9, 2026. He also directed that women receive 30% of loans under the programmes and lowered the minimum applicant age from 21 to 18.

The decisions came at a meeting in Islamabad reviewing the schemes. Officials said Rs292bn was allocated for lending during the current financial year, while total disbursements to young borrowers since January 2023 have reached Rs313.9bn. Sharif also asked the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority to provide borrowers with business guidance and technical assistance, alongside an awareness drive to increase participation.