LAHORE: The Punjab government has directed institutions responsible for the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar interest-free housing loan programme to address delays in the release of loan instalments, with particular attention to second instalments for beneficiaries who have already received their initial financing.
The directive was issued during a review meeting chaired by Punjab Housing and Urban Development Minister Bilal Yasin. Officials were also instructed to accelerate the scrutiny of pending applications and remove unnecessary procedural obstacles that could affect the construction of homes under the programme.
More Than Rs. 264 Billion Disbursed
During the meeting, officials reported that more than Rs. 264 billion had been disbursed to over 200,000 families across Punjab under the housing initiative.
The latest figure represents an increase from the previously reported Rs. 259.68 billion disbursed among 200,072 applicants. Disbursements had also reached approximately Rs. 243 billion by late August, indicating continued movement of funds to participating households.
The programme provides interest-free housing loans to eligible families to support the construction of homes.
Focus on Second Instalment Delays
The review placed particular emphasis on delays affecting second loan instalments. Since financing is released in stages linked to construction progress, delays in subsequent instalments can affect beneficiaries who have already started building their homes.
The minister directed the relevant institutions to improve coordination and ensure that eligible beneficiaries do not face avoidable delays in receiving subsequent instalments.
Officials were also asked to accelerate the examination of applications awaiting processing and identify procedural issues that could slow down approvals or financing.
Potential Impact on Home Construction
Faster processing and timely release of instalments could help participating families maintain construction activity once they have entered the programme and received initial financing.
The continued disbursement of funds under Apni Chhat Apna Ghar is also supporting household-level construction activity across Punjab. Increased construction can generate demand for building materials, labour and related services.
The latest directions are focused on improving programme implementation, while the actual impact on loan processing and instalment timelines will depend on how quickly the relevant institutions implement the instructions.
