QUETTA: The Balochistan government plans to offer interest-free loans to technically trained young people in Kharan to help them launch businesses and secure sustainable livelihoods, while also upgrading vocational training facilities in the district.
The provincial government has agreed to make the Technical Training Centre in Kharan fully operational and introduce new courses tailored to local employment and business needs.
Finance Minister Mir Shoaib Nosherwani announced the proposed initiatives during a visit to the headquarters of the Balochistan Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (B-TEVTA), where he chaired a meeting with Managing Director Abdul Qabir Zarkoon.
Dr Noor Muhammad, head of the Public-Private Partnership Unit, B-TEVTA directors and other senior officials also attended the meeting.
Officials briefed the minister on ongoing technical and vocational training programmes, the authority’s performance and its future plans.
Nosherwani said the chief minister had directed the provincial government to provide young people with modern, high-quality technical education to improve their access to employment.
Under the proposed scheme, the government plans to combine vocational training with entrepreneurship programmes and Qarz-e-Hasna, or interest-free loans, enabling trained young people to establish businesses and become financially independent.
The meeting also agreed to fully activate the Technical Training Centre in Kharan and introduce vocational courses suited to the area’s specific needs. The initiative aims to equip young people with practical skills that can help them find jobs or establish their own enterprises.
Meanwhile, B-TEVTA Managing Director Abdul Qabir Zarkoon briefed the finance minister on the authority’s upcoming initiatives. He assured the minister that the authority would introduce training programmes aligned with modern technologies and market demand in the near future.
Also Read: Balochistan Allocates Rs 6 Billion for Interest-Free Loans
These programmes aim to match young people’s technical skills with employment opportunities in domestic and international markets.
However, the interest-free loan scheme is still at the planning stage. Government officials said they would finalise its implementation mechanism and publish an advertisement containing details for prospective applicants.
The government has yet to announce the loan amounts, eligibility criteria, application deadline or disbursement schedule.
