Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has decided to launch the “Apna Ghar, Mehfooz Ghar” programme.
The government will launch it under the existing “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” initiative. It aimed to make homes across the province safer and prevent tragedies like the Kahna incident.
The decision was taken during a special meeting chaired by the chief minister. The meeting agreed to further expand the scope of the “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” programme. The meeting considered introducing two new categories under the “Apna Ghar, Mehfooz Ghar” programme.
Under the proposed programme, interest-free loans of Rs500,000 will be provided for the renovation. And strengthening of houses with weak roofs or dilapidated structures. Interest-free loans of Rs1 million will also be offered in easy instalments for constructing an additional storey or floor.
The meeting also reviewed progress on the “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” and “Apni Zameen, Apna Ghar” (My Land, My Home) programmes. A report on the successful participation of the Punjab Pakistan Pavilion in Baku was presented along with a special documentary.
The meeting was informed that interest-free loans had been approved for more than 180,000 homeless families under the “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” programme, while loans had already been disbursed to 170,000 families. An amount of Rs217.8 billion has been released for the programme, and around 27,500 houses are in the final stages of completion.
The briefing further stated that 134,343 houses had been completed across Punjab under the programme, while more than 1.278 million applications had been received from homeless families.
Apni Chhat Apna Ghar:
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed that the second instalment under the “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” programme be released within three days. She said good governance was reflected through practical measures rather than statements during times of crisis.
The meeting approved a new Rs1 million loan category for constructing an additional floor. And also approved a Rs500,000 loan category for repairing damaged or unsafe roofs.
The briefing further stated that 2,000 plots had been distributed in 23 districts under the “Apni Zameen, Apna Ghar” programme. A report on rehabilitation and development work in these areas was also presented.
The chief minister directed that the process for obtaining housing loans be made even easier. She said the 2,000 homeless families who had received free plots from the government would also be provided loans for house construction.
She said the Punjab government would assist families in making unsafe, weak-roofed and dilapidated houses secure and better.
CM Maryam Nawaz said the “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” programme and all its allied initiatives were flagship projects of the Punjab government. She added that no negligence would be tolerated. She further directed that no additional financial burden should be placed on the poor. And that there should be no changes in the eligibility criteria or procedures for obtaining housing loans.
