PM Shehbaz Orders Nationwide Awareness Campaign for ‘Apna Ghar’ Housing Scheme

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to accelerate a nationwide awareness campaign for the Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar Housing Scheme, describing the initiative as a key driver of growth in the construction sector, related industries, and the broader economy.

The directive was issued during a review meeting chaired by the prime minister to assess the progress of the housing scheme.

Speaking at the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the strong public response to the program, saying that the participation of a large number of citizens was encouraging. He expressed confidence that if the current pace continues, the scheme will help fulfill the dream of homeownership for many aspiring families.

The prime minister stated that the success of the initiative would stimulate activity in the construction industry, promote growth in associated sectors, and contribute to faster economic development.

He instructed authorities to further simplify the process for citizens seeking to join the scheme. The Ministry of Housing was directed to work with the State Bank of Pakistan to make application forms easier to understand, while banks were asked to expedite the approval process for eligible applications.

Shehbaz Sharif also ordered a more aggressive awareness campaign across the country and directed provincial governments to establish facilitation desks at the district level to assist applicants and speed up the acquisition of land-related documentation.

During the briefing, officials informed the prime minister that loans totaling Rs11 billion have so far been disbursed under the Apna Ghar Scheme. They added that after the rules and procedures were simplified in March this year, the number of applications increased significantly.

According to the briefing, 67,900 applications have been received from across Pakistan. Of these, 16,587 applications have been approved, while 3,146 beneficiaries have already received financing.

Officials further stated that the loan disbursement process is being accelerated through the establishment of digital hubs, facilitation desks, and other administrative measures.

The meeting was also informed that the State Bank of Pakistan has made it mandatory for banks to process Apna Ghar Scheme applications within 15 days.

In addition, recent legislation passed by Parliament concerning condominium ownership and financial institution recovery is expected to remove legal hurdles in the housing sector and encourage further growth.

Officials noted that a dedicated digital portal has already been launched to monitor and track the progress of the Apna Ghar Housing Scheme.