Lahore: Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif's "Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar" program has achieved historic success.
Across the province, interest-free loans exceeding Rs 8.5 billion have been issued to more than 9,000 individuals. In just a few months, a unique record of Rs 8.5 billion in microfinance loans has been set.
In a remarkably short period, over 400,000 applications, along with required documents, have been submitted on the "Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar" portal, setting a new milestone.
In the first phase of the program, 5,000 loans have been issued, and more than 5,000 houses are rapidly nearing completion.
Construction has also commenced with the 3,000 loans granted in the second phase, while the verification of applications received on the program's portal is being carried out by three independent microfinance institutions.
According to the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the goal is to construct 100,000 houses within one year and 500,000 houses within five years. To facilitate this, the "Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar" project has launched the portal acag.punjab.gov.pk and a helpline number 0800-09100.
Emphasizing the importance of achieving the project's targets, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif stated that "the state is like a mother, and a mother is most concerned about her homeless children."
She further expressed confidence that Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar will prove to be Pakistan's best housing project. "My heart desires that no one in Punjab should remain homeless, and everyone should have the comfort of their own roof," she said.
Maryam Nawaz also highlighted that loans under the project will be granted purely on merit, without any recommendations. Individuals availing a loan of Rs 1.5 million will only have to repay the principal amount in monthly installments of Rs 14,000 over a period of nine years.
Speaking about the progress, she said, “Seeing the houses being built under this program brings me the same joy as if I were building my own home.”
