LAHORE (Kashmir English): The Punjab government has launched a new initiative to financially assist people for house repairs under ‘Apni Chhat Apna Ghar’ loan scheme.
The government will provide interest-free loans up to Rs. 1m for the repair and rehabilitation of dilapidated houses under the “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” programme.
The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Punjab Minister for Housing Bilal Yaseen, attended by the President of the Bank of Punjab, the Secretary Housing, and the Director General of PHATA.
Speaking on the occasion, the provincial minister said that eligible families will be able to obtain interest-free loans ranging from Rs. 500,000 to Rs. 1 million through an e-portal for house repairs or roof construction.
He said the loans will be provided under a transparent, low-cost, and interest-free mechanism.
He said the initiative aims to improve the living conditions of low-income families by enabling them to repair unsafe and deteriorating homes.
Officials informed the meeting that around 170,000 families have already received interest-free loans under the “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” programme.
They further said that the Punjab government plans to extend interest-free loans to another 100,000 families during the next fiscal year.
Apni Chhat Apna Ghar Scheme
The “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” programme is a flagship housing initiative of the provincial government which is aimed at providing affordable housing to low-income residents.
The programme seeks to construct 100,000 affordable houses and apartments over four and a half years through three execution models.
The initiative is expected to improve housing conditions, reduce overcrowding and informal settlements, expand access to basic amenities, strengthen community development, and generate around 500,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities through large-scale housing construction.
Eligibility for loan scheme
To qualify, an applicant must be a resident of Punjab. Eligible applicants can apply online through the programme’s official portal at www.acag.punjab.gov.pk.
The scheme offers an interest-free loan of up to Rs. 1 million with a repayment period of seven years through easy monthly instalments. The loan amount is released in tranches.
The revolving fund will remain sustainable as repayments from beneficiaries are used to finance new loans.
The Punjab government will bear the programme’s operational costs and applicable sales tax, ensuring that beneficiaries receive financing without any interest charges.
