720 labourers become homeowners under CM’s free housing scheme

• CM Maryam Nawaz formally inaugurates distribution of houses by handing over flat keys to labourers at a special ceremony

 LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said on Wednesday that, for the first time in Pakistan’s history, a unique initiative has been launched to provide free housing to labourers, under which 720 workers have been made owners of their own homes.

The chief minister formally inaugurated the distribution of houses by handing over flat keys to labourers at a special ceremony held under the Punjab Employees Social Security Institution (PESSI).

Special priority was given to widows and persons with disabilities.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif distributed allotment letters and keys of free flats to the workers. pic.twitter.com/8C1171dFaz

— PMLN (@pmln_org) May 13, 2026

She was also briefed on the free flats initiative and other ongoing welfare programmes for workers.

Under the Sundar Estate Flats Project, special preference was given to widows and differently-abled persons, reflecting an inclusive approach in the allocation process.

35 لاکھ روپے فی گھر بنانے میں خرچ ہوئے۔مجھے کہا گیا کہ یہ رقم اُن لوگوں سے قسطوں میں وصول کی جائے گی جنہیں گھر دیے جائیں گے، مگر میں نے اپنی ٹیم کو کہا کہ ان سے ایک پیسہ بھی وصول نہیں کیا جائے گا۔انہیں بالکل مفت گھر دیے جائیں گے، وزیراعلیٰ پنجاب مریم نواز pic.twitter.com/XvLGPWC3wR

— Pervaiz Sandhila (@chsandhilaa) May 13, 2026

A documentary highlighting various Labour Department initiatives was also screened during the ceremony.

CM Maryam Nawaz personally distributed allotment letters and keys of free flats among deserving labourers. In the widows’ category, Sonia Pervaiz received an allotment letter and keys to a free flat. Hearing-impaired Yasir Hanif and polio patient Farhan Ali were also among the recipients.

آج 720 محنت کش خاندانوں کو گھر فراہم کیے جا رہے ہیں۔ ٹیکسلا میں تقریباً 500 گھر مکمل ہیں جبکہ آئندہ تین سال میں 5000 سے زائد گھروں کا ہدف ہے۔ تین مرلے کے پلاٹس اور آسان اقساط پر ہاؤسنگ اسکیم کے تحت ورکرز کو سہولت دی جا رہی ہے۔ “اپنی چھت، اپنا گھر” پروگرام کے تحت ایک لاکھ گھر مکمل… pic.twitter.com/471FQLbxgP

— PMLN (@pmln_org) May 13, 2026

Other beneficiaries included Muhammad Wasif, Shahadat Ali, Abida Ali, Kausar Bibi, elderly worker Victor Hector and Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmad, who were all handed allotment letters and keys to their new homes.

Congratulating the worker families, the chief minister said: “Workers are friends of Allah. Congratulations on having your own roof, your own home and your own house.”

Punjab Labour Minister Mansha Ullah Butt also addressed the ceremony, saying the Labour Department had once been an overlooked institution, but reforms introduced in 1988 under Nawaz Sharif had brought major improvements for workers.

He added that owning a home is the dream of every labourer, and said Maryam Nawaz has now turned that dream into reality by becoming the first chief minister to provide free flats to workers in Punjab.