ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Youth Affairs Shaza Fatima Khawaja has said the government plans to restart Prime Minister’s youth laptop scheme this year under which laptops will be distributed among high achieving students of universities.

According to a Radio Pakistan’s report, she said this on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day being observed today (Friday). She said laptop is a tool that enables youth to have access to latest skills, online work and businesses. She said World Youth Skills Day is important as Pakistan is a country with 68 percent of the population comprising youth.

Shaza Fatima stressed on enriching the youth with modern vocational and technical skills as advancement in modern technology has advanced all sectors including agriculture, textile and manufacturing.

She said the PML-N government in 2013 started Prime Minister’s youth program under which 100,000 scholarships were given annually. She said that the government will soon advertise the scholarships for this year.

The SAPM said loan schemes for young entrepreneurs will also be revived under the Prime Minister’s Youth program through which loan up to seven point five million rupees can be acquired on easy installments. She said special awareness programs and business plan trainings will be conducted to encourage the youth to start entrepreneurship and become job givers instead of job seekers.