LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday launched the “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” program, an initiative designed to provide affordable housing to residents across Punjab.
The program aims to assist citizens with interest-free loans of up to 1.5 million rupees for the construction of homes. These loans, which are repayable over a period of seven years, are targeted at individuals building houses on plots of up to five marlas in urban areas and up to ten marlas in rural regions.
This scheme aims to provide 100,000 affordable Houses / Apartments to eligible residents in all areas of the province, marking a significant development in Punjab’s housing sector. “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar Program” will facilitate low-income segments of society currently residing either in rented buildings or in informal settings to have their own houses. This program will deliver 100,000 affordable houses across the province within four and a half years with 03 Execution Models.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Lahore, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif highlighted the government’s commitment to making affordable housing a reality for many Punjabis. She described the scheme as a significant step towards realizing the long-held aspiration of owning a home. “The dream of ‘Apni Chhat Apna Ghar’ has now become a reality,” she stated.
The Chief Minister explained that the loan application process is designed to be user-friendly. Interested individuals can apply through the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) portal or by calling the toll-free number 080009100 for more details. The initiative will be accessible to residents across all major cities in Punjab.
The scheme includes a three-month grace period during which no payments are required. Monthly instalments will be set at 14,000 rupees, making the scheme both affordable and manageable for a wide range of income levels.
Maryam Nawaz also took the opportunity to announce plans for a large-scale solar energy initiative. Scheduled to begin next year, this program aims to introduce the largest solar project in Punjab’s history, which the Chief Minister hopes will eventually eliminate the need for electricity bills for residents. She expressed enthusiasm about the positive impact this project will have on the province’s energy sector and its residents.
The houses built under the “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” program are planned to feature two bedrooms, a TV lounge, a bathroom, and a “decent-sized” kitchen, ensuring they meet the basic needs of a family.
Punjab Housing & Twon Planning Agency is executing Agency and Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Department (HUD&PHED) is administrative department for this program.
Execution Models
Execution Model-1 (Tentative 10,000 housing units).
Execution of Model-1 aims to facilitate the construction of housing units/apartments on state land through an equity-based land-sharing arrangement between developers and the PHATA.
The program involves planning for the development of infrastructure and the construction of housing units/apartments on state land based on a land equity arrangement. Developer is responsible to construct complete infrastructure, including roads, utilities, and other amenities. Follow design and scope provided by PHATA.
PHATA will provide a preliminary land use plan of selected/advertised sites for competitive bidding. Developers may request approval for a revised plan as per regulations. PHATA, through a consultant firm, will provide structural and relevant drawings of infrastructure and housing units/apartments. The successful developer must ensure adherence to design standards, material, and construction specifications at every step and site.
Developers are responsible for the full capital cost of infrastructure development and housing construction in exchange for state land. PHATA will transfer the agreed percentage of state land to the developer/contractor according to the agreed timelines at various stages of infrastructure development and housing construction.
The government will not provide any share or subsidy for infrastructure development or housing construction on the state land. The government will determine the price and installment plan for each housing unit/apartment.
The layout plan for state land transferred to the developer/contractor will be approved by the Governing Body of PHATA, adhering to the land use plan and PHATA’s building regulations. PHATA will develop the trunk infrastructure for each site using the block allocation approved by the Government.
Execution Model-2 (Tentative 20,000 housing units).
This execution model focuses on the development of low-cost houses on 20% or above of residential area, by the developers in each private housing scheme which is approved by PHATA under the Affordable Private Housing Scheme (APHS) Rules 2020.
The model will have following salient features:
The model emphasizes the allocation of 20% or above of residential area within private housing scheme, aiming to address the housing needs of low-income individuals and families. Developers will be given approvals of their Private Housing Schemes under APHS Rules, 2020.
The Government of Punjab will streamline the approval process by implementing one-window mechanism, ensuring that the timelines for granting NOCs from each department are strictly adhered to.
The developer will provide affordable houses of size, design and price as determined by Agency (PHATA). Allottee will make down payment as fixed by Agency (PHATA) to the developer through an Escrow account, which will be jointly maintained by the developer and Agency (PHATA).
After receipt of down payment from allottee and subsidy of 1.00 million from government, possession of constructed units will be given by developer to the allottee. Allottee will make payments to the developer of remaining amount on monthly instalments over a period of five years or as determined by Agency (PHATA).
On payment of complete instalments, allotment letter will be issued to the allottee by the developer. Construction of houses / units will be supervised and monitored by Agency (PHATA).
Payment to the developer from Escrow account will be made on achievement of agreed milestones.
Execution Model -3 (Tentative 70,000 loan for housing units)
Under this model, interest free loans or financing for house construction will be provided. A Revolving fund will be established to provide interest-free loans for the construction of houses to eligible beneficiaries with following conditions:
I. He / She is a resident of Punjab with residential plot of up to 5 marlas in urban areas and up to 10 marlas in rural areas. He/ She can apply for the interest-free loan through ACAG’s website: www.acag.punjab.gov.pk online portal.
II. Maximum Loan amount will be 1.5 million.
III. The loan tenure will be 7 years with easy monthly instalments.
IV. Amount will be disbursed in tranches to beneficiaries.
V. The revolving fund will continue to revolve, after receiving back installments of interest free loans from the beneficiaries.
VI. Operational costs and sales tax will also be paid by the Government of Punjab.
Eligibility Criteria for Applicants Under Model-3:
▪ Applicant is a head of his /her beta (nucleus) family as per NADRA record.
▪ Applicant is a permanent resident of Punjab as per his/her CNIC.
▪ Applicant is sole owner and possessor of a parcel of land measuring 5 Marla or less in urban areas and land upto 10 Marla in rural areas anywhere in Punjab as on the date of submission of online application wherein he/she intends to build his/her house.
▪ Applicant should not have a criminal record such as being convicted for anti-state, anti-social activities and heinous crimes etc.
▪ Applicant should not be a loan defaulter of any financial institution/ bank etc.
▪ Applicant is registered with National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) in a household having a PMT score of 60 or less.
Initial Verification Process:
PHATA will start the verification process as soon as the applicants register with the program, in the following manner, so as to see and verify the applicant’s being:
▪ The head of a beta family, from NADRA data, through PITB.
▪ A member of a household having a PMT score 60 or less, from NSER registry, through PITB; and
▪ Sole owner and possessor of a plot of 5 marlas or less in urban area and 10 marla or less in rural area, either through the various land ownership recordkeepers, like PLRA, Development Authorities, Cooperatives Department etc., or direct on-ground verification through the Deputy Commissioners concerned, if no agency is available for verification based on digital databases.
Application Form (For execution Model-3):
Web Portal of ACAG: Application forms can be found on the ACAG web portal at www.acag.punjab.gov.pk. Toll-Free Information: A toll-free number, 0800-09100, is available for information and guidance. Applicants can also use the short code 1317 for assistance.
Physical Availability of Application forms: Application forms are available free of charge at PHATA Offices and AC and DC offices.
