Muzaffarabad, Pakistan administrated Kashmir: Serious questions are being raised over the Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore Youth Loan Scheme in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, which was launched with the promise of providing interest-free loans of up to two million rupees to unemployed youth.
According to applicants and civil society voices, thousands of young people were asked to pay an application fee of Rs 2,000 or more in order to apply for the scheme. Critics argue that while the government announced financial support for youth empowerment, no clear timeline has been provided for the disbursement of loans.
Estimates suggest that if even 50,000 applicants submitted forms, the total amount collected in fees would exceed Rs 100 million, raising concerns about transparency and accountability in the implementation of the scheme.
Youth representatives and social activists are demanding that the government either immediately release the promised loans or refund the application fees collected from applicants. They argue that the state’s responsibility is to create employment opportunities and support young people, not to financially burden the unemployed under the guise of welfare initiatives.
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The government has yet to issue a detailed public response addressing these concerns.
