Pakistan has reduced the documentation requirements for its Apna Ghar housing scheme from 25 documents to just five, while setting a 15-working-day processing period for loan applications to make home financing more accessible.
The development was shared during a meeting on Wednesday, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reviewed the progress of the housing scheme and discussed measures to simplify the process for applicants.
During the meeting, the prime minister directed the relevant authorities to further streamline the application procedure and help applicants obtain clear property ownership documents required to secure housing finance.
The government’s latest measures aim to reduce administrative hurdles and make it easier for eligible applicants to access loans for purchasing or constructing homes.
Shehbaz Sharif also instructed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and relevant ministries to consult stakeholders and submit recommendations by the end of October on improving access to financing for housing, agriculture and small businesses.
Agricultural Financing Targets Set for 2027
The meeting was informed that agricultural lending had reached Rs. 1,352 billion. The government aims to increase the total to Rs. 1,500 billion and expand the number of beneficiaries to 4.5 million by June 2027.
These targets are intended to broaden access to financing for farmers and support agricultural activity across the country.
SME Lending to Expand
The meeting also reviewed financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). More than 352,000 businesses have received loans worth Rs. 1,137 billion, according to the briefing.
The government plans to increase SME lending to Rs. 1,500 billion and raise the number of borrowing businesses to 575,000 by June 2027.
The housing, agriculture and SME financing measures form part of broader efforts to improve access to credit and support economic activity. For prospective homebuyers, reducing the Apna Ghar scheme’s paperwork to five documents and limiting processing to 15 working days could help make the housing loan application process more straightforward.
Applicants should confirm the latest eligibility criteria, required documents and loan terms with the relevant authorities before submitting an application.
