- Punjab CM says project fulfils Nawaz Sharif’s dream of giving every poor family a roof
- Gvot achieves Rs120b housing milestone, completing 100,000 homes and loans ahead of schedule
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday expressed gratitude over the successful completion of the ambitious target of constructing 100,000 houses under the “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” project—a landmark housing initiative aimed at providing affordable shelter to low-income families across the province.
She also announced that the parallel goal of providing one lakh interest-free and easy loans to deserving families had been fully achieved ahead of schedule, describing the milestone as “a new chapter in Pakistan’s housing history.”
Congratulating citizens who have built homes through the scheme, Maryam Nawaz lauded the efforts of the Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar team for completing the one-year target in just ten months. “Under this project, loans worth Rs120 billion have been issued to 100,835 families, while 22,305 houses have already been occupied and *64,190 are in the final stages of completion,” she said.
The chief minister said the transparent execution of such a large-scale housing project within a short span reflected her government’s commitment to empowering the poor and middle class. “The Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar project has created a new history in the housing sector. No words can express my gratitude to Allah Almighty for allowing us to fulfil the dream of providing a roof to the underprivileged,” she remarked.
Paying tribute to her father and party leader, she added, “Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif dreamed of a house for every poor family. May Allah grant us success in continuing that vision.”
Maryam Nawaz reaffirmed her government’s unwavering resolve to achieve the target of 500,000 houses in five years, saying the initiative had for the first time made ordinary citizens feel that “the state is like a mother.”
Decisive Measures to Curb Extremism
In a separate development, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz approved a comprehensive draft of decisive measures to curb extremism and strengthen the state’s writ across Punjab.
At a high-level meeting, the provincial government authorised strict action against any individual or group taking up arms against the state and finalised a broad framework to uphold the rule of law and ensure public safety.
The meeting decided to strictly enforce the Loudspeaker Act and establish whistleblower cells in every district to encourage citizens to report suspicious activities. It also approved the creation of a dedicated cell within the Punjab Police Helpline 15 to receive complaints and intelligence regarding extremist outfits and illegal foreign residents. Citizens were urged to immediately report relevant information by calling 15.
The Punjab government also resolved to intensify operations against illegal weapons, corruption, and mafia networks, while simultaneously promoting transparency and accountability. The chief minister directed that peace committees be made more active and inclusive to ensure greater community participation in law-enforcement efforts.
As part of her governance reform agenda, Maryam Nawaz announced that mobile police stations would soon be deployed across the province, enabling citizens to access police services conveniently within their neighbourhoods.
Clarifying that ongoing combing operations target only extremist elements, not any sect or religious group, she instructed all district administrations to submit daily progress reports detailing actions against illegal residents—particularly those engaged in businesses, brought into the tax net, or transferred to deportation centres.
The meeting also approved a ban on advertisements, posters, and placards promoting extremist organizations. Property owners were warned against renting shops or houses to illegal residents, with violations to be prosecuted under the Tenancy and Passport Acts.
Maryam Nawaz reiterated that the government’s dual focus on social welfare and security aimed to safeguard both livelihoods and lives. “From giving every family a roof to ensuring every street remains safe—this is the promise of a peaceful, progressive Punjab,” she said.
