Asaan Karobar Finance Scheme: Eligibility, Registration & Key Details

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has introduced the Asaan Karobar Finance Scheme, a groundbreaking initiative designed to support entrepreneurs and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with interest-free loans. This scheme aims to promote economic growth and business expansion by offering accessible financing across Punjab.

Interest-Free Loans for Entrepreneurs

At the launch event in Lahore, CM Maryam Nawaz highlighted that this is Punjab’s first-ever interest-free business loan program, providing loans between Rs1 million and Rs30 million to aspiring and existing business owners. Additionally, land will be provided at subsidized rates to further encourage business development.

Several entrepreneurs have already benefited from the scheme, including:

Asif (Faisalabad) – Rs30 million for a pharmaceutical business
Wajahat Fareed (Rawalpindi) – Rs30 million for a software house
Arshad (Lahore) – Rs30 million for a sports export business
Ali Asif (Sahiwal) – Rs5 million for a furniture business
Afzal – Rs3.175 million for a transport business
Shabbir (Lahore) – Rs5 million for a hair salon & cosmetics venture
Faizan Mumtaz – Rs5.75 million for a garments business
Abu Bakar Saleh & Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali – Rs1 million each for paper manufacturing & bakery businesses

Loan Amounts & Repayment Terms

The Asaan Karobar Finance Scheme offers two tiers of interest-free loans:

Tier 1: Rs1 million – Rs5 million (Processing fee: Rs5,000)
Tier 2: Rs6 million – Rs30 million (Processing fee: Rs10,000)

Key repayment details:

0% interest rate with a five-year repayment period
Grace period: 6 months for startups, 3 months for existing businesses
Monthly installment payments
Late fee: Rs1 per Rs1,000 per day on overdue amounts
Loans will be disbursed via the Bank of Punjab
No NOC, business license, or prior approvals required

According to CM Maryam Nawaz, the goal is to ensure quick and hassle-free access to funding:
“Get a loan today and start your business tomorrow.”

Eligibility Criteria for the Asaan Karobar Scheme

To qualify for the Asaan Karobar Finance Scheme, applicants must:

Be between 21 and 57 years old
Have a valid CNIC and registered mobile number
Own or plan to start a business in Punjab
Be a tax filer with a clean credit history
Provide business and residential documentation
Small businesses (sales up to Rs150 million) & medium businesses (Rs150M–Rs800M) are eligible

Required Documents for Loan Application

Applicants must prepare scanned copies or clear images of the following:

CNIC and a passport-size photo
Tax filing proof
Business income & expense details
Property ownership or rent agreement (business & residence)
References’ CNIC copies & contact details

How to Apply for Asaan Karobar Finance

1️⃣ Register online via the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) portal (akc.punjab.gov.pk/cmpunjabfinance) using a CNIC-linked mobile number
2️⃣ Complete the application – Allocate at least 15 minutes
3️⃣ Pay the processing fee (Rs5,000 for Tier 1 / Rs10,000 for Tier 2)
4️⃣ Upload required documents & submit the application
5️⃣ Track status via SMS & registration number