LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s Apni Chhat Apna Ghar housing programme has received international recognition, with the provincial government describing the award as a milestone for its efforts to help low-income families build their own homes.
According to figures provided in the report, the programme has supported 214,330 homes across Punjab within approximately 18 months. Of these, 120,753 beneficiaries have completed their houses, while construction is ongoing on another 60,464.
The report states that interest-free loans worth Rs278.461 billion have been disbursed under the initiative, which aims to help eligible families secure permanent housing.
Interest-free loans for deserving families
The programme is intended to assist people who cannot afford to build homes without financial support. Home ownership can be particularly difficult for families who have spent years paying rent or living without adequate accommodation.
The initiative was also linked to a long-standing housing vision associated with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, according to the supplied report. Maryam Nawaz’s government has pursued the programme as part of its provincial housing efforts.
Digital application and verification process
The programme uses an online application system through which eligible applicants can submit their information without repeatedly visiting government offices.
According to the report, applications undergo verification by the relevant institution before loans are approved. The programme’s website also provides information about construction progress and loan disbursements.
The digital process is intended to make applications more accessible and reduce direct contact between applicants and government departments. The report describes the system as a measure to promote transparency and limit political interference.
However, the effectiveness of these safeguards would need to be assessed through independently available programme records and oversight findings.
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UN-linked award announced in Muscat
The supplied report says the housing initiative received an international award associated with the United Nations, with the ceremony held in Muscat, Oman. Maryam Nawaz was reportedly invited to receive the award.
The report describes the programme as having secured the top position among five recognised initiatives from around the world. However, it does not identify the exact award title, the UN body responsible for presenting it or the other programmes considered, so those details remain unverified in the material provided.
Housing targets and implementation remain key
The reported scale of the programme makes implementation, loan recovery arrangements and the quality of completed homes important measures of its longer-term impact.
The number of homes completed, the number still under construction and the distribution of loans across districts will help establish how effectively the scheme is reaching eligible households.
For families receiving assistance, the programme’s central objective is to turn the prospect of owning a home into a practical reality. Independent confirmation of its results and the details of the international award would provide a clearer picture of the initiative’s achievements.
