Making people economically self-reliant top priority: PM.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said that besides providing financial assistance to the downtrodden segments, the present government's foremost priority is to make the people economically self-reliant.

"It is for the first time in Pakistan that a comprehensive strategy has been formulated to steer the economically weaker segments of society out of poverty," the prime minister said while presiding over a high-level meeting of Kamyab Pakistan Programme here. He also cited the examples of China and India and said that unlike India which failed, China successfully steered millions of people out of poverty during the last 30 years.

Minister for Finance Shaukat Tarin, Special Assistants to PM Waqar Masood, Usman Dar, Chairman Naya Pakistan Housing Authority Lt Gen (r) Anwar Ali Haider, Chairman Habib Bank Sultan Ali Alana, President Punjab Bank Zafar Masood and relevant officers and stakeholders attended the meeting.

The meeting was briefed about including the Kamyab Business, Kamyab Kissan and Kamyab Hunarmand programmes under the Kamyab Jawan Programme and whole-sale lending for the Low Cost Housing Schemes and Kamyab Pakistan Housing in Kamyab Pakistan Programme. It was told that Kamyab Pakistan Programme will play an important role in enhancing economic activities in the country and making people self-dependent in terms of employment.

Under the programme, new applicants will be provided business, low-cost housing...