Islamabad: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Sania Nishtar, yesterday said 80,000 interest-free loans would be disbursed countrywide among the needy every month under National Poverty Graduation Strategy programme to enable them to start their own businesses.

Highlighting the key features of National Poverty Graduation Strategy under Ehsas Programme in a press conference here, Dr Sania the interest-free loans would be disbursed in next four years.

As per policy, 50 per cent interest-free loan would be disbursed among women.

Dr Sania said Rs 42.65 billion has been allocated for the National Poverty Graduation Strategy programme. However, 16.2 million people would get benefit from it and 80,000 people would be provided interest-free loans every month, she added.