Lahore: More than 108,000 businesses across Punjab have received financial support under the provincial government’s Aasaan Karobar Finance and Aasaan Karobar Card schemes, aimed at improving access to interest-free financing and promoting small and medium enterprises.
According to official figures, PKR 70 billion in interest-free loans have been disbursed over the past six months, benefiting 108,371 businesses across various sectors. The first phase of the initiative saw 4,238 individuals receive PKR 16.31 billion in financing, including 203 women entrepreneurs who were provided loans amounting to PKR 1.82 billion to start or expand their businesses.
Sector-wise, the largest share of financing was directed towards agriculture, which received PKR 40.3 billion, followed by trade with PKR 33.8 billion. Transport-related businesses received PKR 4.27 billion, while PKR 6.3 billion was allocated to manufacturing and other sectors.
Under the Aasaan Karobar Card Scheme, 104,131 cards have been issued, through which Rs44 billion in card-based loans have been provided. Beneficiaries include small shopkeepers, home-based businesses, and vendors.
The Punjab government has announced that the programme will enter its second phase, under which an additional PKR 90 billion in interest-free loans will be disbursed. As part of the expansion, separate Aasaan Karobar schemes have been introduced for North, Central, and South Punjab, along with an Aasaan Karobar and Export Finance scheme for small and medium enterprises, offering interest-free loans of up to PKR 50 million.
Officials said the initiative is intended to create a more business-friendly environment, support employment generation, and strengthen economic activity across urban and rural areas of the province.
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