LAHORE: The Punjab government has announced the launch of an ambitious housing initiative titled Apni Chhat, Mahfooz Chhat, under which citizens will be provided interest-free loans of up to Rs500,000 to construct their own homes.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony in Lahore, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that owning a house was the dream of every individual, as a secure roof offered peace, satisfaction, and a sense of dignity. She emphasized that the program was designed to ensure that no family in Punjab would lose its happiness due to unsafe housing conditions.
Under the scheme, loans of up to Rs500,000 will be extended for a period of nine years. Beneficiaries will not be required to pay installments for the first three months, after which they will contribute Rs4,700 per month. Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the initiative was part of the government’s broader vision to provide better housing facilities and enable citizens to live with dignity.
She reaffirmed her commitment to prioritizing public welfare projects, stressing that the Punjab government would continue to take steps that bring tangible improvements to the lives of ordinary people.
Expressing grief over the recent tragedy in Kahna, where children lost their lives due to a weak roof collapse, the chief minister said the incident had deeply distressed her. “I understand the pain of the parents of the deceased children,” she remarked, adding that the new program was aimed at preventing such heartbreaking incidents in the future.
