PM Launches Rs3.2tr Apna Ghar Housing Loan Scheme

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday launched the PM Apna Ghar Programme in Islamabad, announcing a major housing finance initiative aimed at expanding access to affordable homes across Pakistan. The scheme offers housing loans of up to Rs10 million on easier repayment terms and is being presented as one of the government’s flagship social and economic support measures.

The programme will apply not only in the federal capital but also across all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. According to the prime minister, the initiative has been designed to support families who want to build or own homes but are unable to meet the rising cost of construction and formal housing finance.

Under the plan, the government aims to facilitate the construction of 500,000 housing units over a five-year period. The total allocation for the programme has been set at Rs3.2 trillion, making it one of the largest housing-linked financing commitments announced by the current administration.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, PM Shehbaz said the loans would be repayable over 20 years. He explained that borrowers would pay a five per cent markup during the first 10 years, while the rate for the following decade would be linked to the market rate prevailing at that time.

For the first year, the government has set a target of financing 50,000 homes, with Rs321 billion earmarked for that phase. The prime minister also said that homes of up to 10 marla would be allowed under the scheme, a condition that appears intended to keep the programme focused on middle- and lower-income housing needs rather than luxury development.

The prime minister said he would personally review progress every month to ensure that the programme remains on track. Such monitoring will be important because housing schemes in Pakistan have often faced criticism over delays, unclear eligibility rules, documentation hurdles and uneven delivery across regions.

The launch comes at a time when Pakistan’s urban population is expanding rapidly and housing affordability has become a major pressure point for families in large cities as well as smaller towns. Rising construction costs, expensive land, high inflation and limited access to long-term bank financing have pushed many households out of the formal housing market.

The announcement also follows other government relief measures linked to the cost-of-living crisis. Under the PM Fuel Package 2026, Rs1.2 billion has already been digitally disbursed to more than 32,000 beneficiaries, including bus operators, truckers, long-haul vehicle operators and delivery van owners affected by rising fuel prices.

Separately, the European Investment Bank’s development arm, EIB Global, is committing €160 million to support reconstruction of homes in Sindh and improve water quality in Karachi. Together, these developments show that housing, infrastructure and public relief have become central themes in the government’s policy response to economic stress.

The next challenge for the Apna Ghar Programme will be implementation. Authorities will need to clarify eligibility, ensure transparent loan processing, coordinate with banks and provincial administrations, and prevent misuse so that the scheme reaches families most in need of affordable housing support.