Parwaaz Card: Interest-Free Loan for Overseas Jobs
The Parwaaz Card is a Punjab government scheme that lends up to Rs1 million interest-free to people who already hold a verified overseas job offer but cannot afford the cost of taking it. The money covers visa processing, medical tests, skill verification, protectorate fees, air tickets and licensed agent charges. You apply free at parwaaz.psdf.org.pk, and verified applications are processed in about 7 to 10 working days.
The scheme at a glance
| Run by | Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) with the Bank of Punjab, under the Chief Minister's Hunarmand Naujawan programme |
|---|---|
| Loan | Up to Rs1,000,000, interest-free |
| Who it is for | Punjab residents aged 18 or above holding a verified overseas job offer |
| What it pays for | Visa processing and stamping, medical tests, skill verification, protectorate fees, air ticket, licensed promoter fees |
| Repayment | Easy instalments; the term has not been published |
| Apply at | parwaaz.psdf.org.pk, directly or through a registered overseas employment promoter |
| Processing | About 7 to 10 working days once an application is complete and verified |
| Cost to apply | Free |
What problem it solves
The Parwaaz Card exists because the cost of leaving, not the shortage of jobs, stops many Pakistani workers from taking employment abroad. Visa processing, medical examinations, skill verification, protectorate fees, the air ticket and licensed promoter charges fall due before the first salary arrives, and the Punjab scheme lends that money interest-free to applicants who already hold a verified job offer.
Families usually raise this money by selling land, borrowing from a committee or taking an informal loan at punishing rates. An interest-free loan replaces the worst of those options.
Who can apply
- Aged 18 or above, with a valid CNIC
- Resident of Punjab
- Holds a verified overseas job offer from an authorised employer
- Skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers and professionals all qualify
- Both men and women can apply
Sectors named in official reporting include construction, retail, caregiving and healthcare, hospitality and allied trades. Full conditions: who qualifies for the Parwaaz Card.
What the money covers
| Cost | Covered? |
|---|---|
| Visa processing and stamping | Yes |
| Medical examination | Yes |
| Skill verification test | Yes |
| Protectorate of Emigrants fee | Yes |
| Air ticket | Yes |
| Fees of a licensed overseas employment promoter | Yes |
| Money to hand over to an unlicensed agent | No, and paying one is how most overseas job fraud starts |
How to apply
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Step 1
Register at parwaaz.psdf.org.pk as an applicant, using your CNIC and a mobile number in your own name.
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Step 2
Verify your number with the code the portal sends.
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Step 3
Upload your job offer letter, medical certificate and skill documents.
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Step 4
Submit and keep your reference number.
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Step 5 · Final step
Wait to be contacted if your application is shortlisted and verified.
Screen-by-screen: applying on the Parwaaz portal. You can also apply through a registered promoter, but the promoter cannot charge you for the application itself.
The job offer is the whole gate
A Parwaaz Card application cannot proceed without a verified overseas job offer from an authorised employer, because the loan funds the cost of taking a job that already exists rather than the search for one. Applicants without an offer are directed to licensed overseas employment promoters, who are themselves registered on the scheme's portal.
What is still unclear
| Question | Status |
|---|---|
| Repayment period and instalment size | Not published. Officials describe "easy instalments" |
| How many people the scheme will cover | Reports differ: 45,000 skilled youth in the PSDF-Bank of Punjab agreement, 100,000 applicants in earlier coverage |
| Whether a salary ceiling applies to the job offer | Secondary guides mention a cap; no official confirmation |
| Whether the loan is released in parts | Secondary guides describe a split disbursement against receipts; unconfirmed |
| Helpline number | Not published; the portal is the stated channel |
Our read: the gaps are all on the repayment side, which is the part a borrower most needs to plan for. Ask the Bank of Punjab branch for the instalment schedule in writing before you sign, and do not rely on figures from unofficial websites.
Common questions
Is it really interest-free?
Yes. It is described as interest-free financing by the Punjab government and in the PSDF agreement with the Bank of Punjab.
Can I apply without a job offer?
No. Find a position through a licensed promoter first.
Is there any fee?
No fee for applying. Protect yourself from anyone who asks for one.
Can people outside Punjab apply?
No. This is a Punjab scheme.
Sources
- Punjab Skills Development Fund: the official scheme page: eligibility, covered costs, the six-step process and the 20% / 80% release
- PSDF (23 Jun 2026): Rs6.867 billion for 45,000 people, individual financing of Rs300,000 to Rs1 million, and the first cohort of 135 workers
- Business Recorder (10 Jun 2026) and Business Recorder (14 Jun 2026): the PSDF and Bank of Punjab agreement
- ARY News (11 Sep 2026): covered costs, eligibility and the 7-10 working day target
- Dawn (15 Jun 2026) and Dawn (25 Jun 2026): independent confirmation of the agreement and the loan range
- ProPakistani (9 Jan 2026) and Radio Pakistan (11 Jan 2026): the application route and the 100,000 figure
- Radio Pakistan (28 Jan 2026): a third figure, 50,000 at Rs300,000 each
- parwaaz.psdf.org.pk: the application portal, which serves no readable terms of its own
SchemesPK is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Punjab Skills Development Fund, the Bank of Punjab or the Government of Punjab. Apply only at parwaaz.psdf.org.pk.