Punjab launches housing safety loan scheme for unsafe homes

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has decided to introduce the Apna Ghar, Mehfooz Ghar programme under the existing Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar initiative to improve the safety of homes across the province and help avert incidents such as the recent roof collapse in Kahna.

The decision was made at a meeting chaired by the chief minister, where participants agreed to widen the scope of the housing scheme. Under the proposed programme, interest-free loans of Rs500,000 will be given for the repair and reinforcement of homes with weak roofs or deteriorated structures. Interest-free loans of Rs1 million will also be provided in instalments for the construction of an additional storey.

Progress on existing housing schemes

Officials informed the meeting that under the Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar programme, interest-free loans had been approved for more than 180,000 homeless families, while 170,000 of them had already received disbursements. They said Rs217.8 billion had been released for the scheme and around 27,500 houses were in the final stages of completion.

According to the briefing, 134,343 houses have been completed across Punjab under the programme. Officials also said more than 1.278 million applications had been received from homeless families seeking support.

Maryam Nawaz directed that the second instalment under the Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar programme be released within three days. She also ordered that the process for obtaining housing loans should be simplified.

Plots for homeless families

Officials told the meeting that 2,000 plots had been distributed in 23 districts under the Apni Zameen, Apna Ghar programme, and a report on rehabilitation and development work in those areas was presented.

The chief minister said the 2,000 homeless families who had received free plots from the government would also be provided construction loans. She said the Punjab government would support families in making unsafe, weak and dilapidated homes more secure and improved.

Maryam Nawaz said the housing programmes were among the Punjab government’s flagship projects and that negligence in their implementation would not be tolerated. She also directed that there should be no change in the eligibility criteria or procedures for obtaining housing loans.

Meeting with Punjab Assembly speaker

Separately, Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan called on the chief minister. During the meeting, both sides agreed to promote legislative proceedings through mutual coordination and also discussed legislative matters related to prison reforms.

The chief minister directed the speaker to ensure participation of both treasury and opposition members in the legislative process. The speaker also congratulated her on the balloting held under an initiative for landless farmers.

Maryam Nawaz described the Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar scheme as an achievement of the entire team and said it had created land ownership and livelihood opportunities for 30,000 families. She added that the government’s attention was now focused on underdeveloped areas, where electric buses and modern agricultural machinery were being introduced.