Good News for Applicants of Punjab’s ‘Apni Chhat Apna Ghar’ Programme as Interest-Free Loan Target Doubled
Islamabad: Thousands of families in Punjab hoping to build their own homes have received encouraging news as the target for providing interest-free loans under the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar programme has been doubled for the current fiscal year.
More than Rs243 billion in interest-free loans have so far been disbursed under the programme, while the number of approved loans has crossed 200,000.
A key meeting regarding the disbursement of interest-free loans was held under the chairmanship of Punjab Housing Minister Bilal Yasin. Director General PHATA Sikandar Zeeshan, Urban Unit Chief Executive Officer Umar Masood, representatives of the Bank of Punjab and officials of other relevant institutions attended the meeting.
Officials gave a detailed briefing on the progress of the programme and informed the meeting that more than 200,000 loans had been approved so far.
According to the figures presented, 114,237 houses have been completed, while construction work is currently underway on another 45,254 houses.
More Than Rs243 Billion in Interest-Free Loans
The government said that more than Rs243 billion in interest-free loans had been provided in a relatively short period. In view of the record number of applications, the loan disbursement target for the current fiscal year has been doubled.
The decision is particularly significant for low- and middle-income families who may not be in a position to obtain conventional bank loans. The interest-free facility can help eligible applicants begin construction of their homes without the burden of interest payments.
However, timely disbursement of approved loans remains important. Punjab Housing Minister Bilal Yasin directed officials to ensure the immediate release of pending payments.
Action Ordered on Public Complaints
During the meeting, Bilal Yasin said immediate action would be taken over complaints regarding unnecessary delays in loan disbursement.
Relevant authorities were also directed to speed up the process of resolving applicants’ complaints. The Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) was tasked with ensuring effective coordination among all stakeholders so that applicants do not face unnecessary delays or administrative difficulties.
The doubling of the interest-free loan target is expected to provide fresh hope to thousands of families who have long been waiting to build their own homes, with attention now focused on how many additional families will benefit under the expanded target.
