The Punjab government has launched the ‘Parwaaz Card’, an interest-free financing scheme aimed at helping citizens overcome the financial barriers involved in securing employment abroad.
Launched in collaboration with the Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF), the initiative will provide interest-free financing for eligible overseas employment-related expenses, including visa processing, medical examinations, skills verification, air tickets and fees charged by overseas employment promoters.
Skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers, as well as professionals with a verified overseas job offer, will be eligible to apply, subject to the scheme’s conditions. The financing will be repayable through easy instalments.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, hold a valid national identity card and be residents of Punjab. A verified overseas employment offer is also a mandatory requirement.
According to officials, the application, processing and tracking systems have been digitised to make the scheme more accessible, transparent and efficient. Applications with complete documentation and successful verification are expected to be processed within seven to 10 working days.
Those who do not currently have an overseas job offer can seek opportunities through registered overseas employment promoters. Once they secure a verified job offer, they can apply for interest-free financing under the Parwaaz Card scheme.
