No More Renting: Apni Chhat Apna Ghar Launches 100,000 Homes in Punjab

The Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, has launched the “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” scheme, a transformative initiative aimed at providing affordable housing to low-income families across the province. This program is set to construct 100,000 homes over four and a half years, significantly improving living conditions and stimulating economic growth through job creation.

Overview of the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar Scheme

The “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” scheme is a special initiative by the Chief Minister of Punjab, designed to offer 100,000 affordable houses or apartments to eligible residents throughout the province.

This program targets low-income segments of society, particularly those currently residing in rented accommodations or informal settings, enabling them to own their homes. The Punjab Housing & Town Planning Agency (PHATA) is the executing agency, with the Housing, Urban Development, and Public Health Engineering Department (HUD&PHED) serving as the administrative department for this program.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. Head of Household: The applicant must be recognized as the head of their nuclear family according to NADRA records.
2. Permanent Residency: The applicant must be a permanent resident of Punjab, as indicated on their CNIC.
3. Land Ownership: The applicant should be the sole owner and possessor of a parcel of land measuring up to 5 Marla in urban areas or up to 10 Marla in rural areas anywhere in Punjab, intended for building their house.
4. Clean Criminal Record: The applicant must not have a criminal record involving anti-state or anti-social activities or heinous crimes.
5. Financial Standing: The applicant should not be a loan defaulter of any financial institution or bank.
6. Socio-Economic Status: The applicant must be registered with the National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) in a household having a PMT score of 60 or less.

Execution Models

The program is structured around three execution models to deliver the 100,000 affordable housing units:

Model 1: Construction on State Land (10,000 Units)

This model involves building housing units or apartments on government land through partnerships between developers and PHATA, where land is shared as equity. Key aspects include:

• Infrastructure Development: Developers are responsible for constructing complete infrastructure, including roads, utilities, and other necessary facilities, following PHATA’s design and guidelines.
• Land Use Plan: PHATA provides a basic land use plan for selected sites, open for competitive bidding. Developers can request approval for changes according to the rules.
• Cost Responsibility: Developers bear the full cost of developing infrastructure and building housing units in exchange for state land.
• Government Role: The government does not offer any share or subsidy for the development of infrastructure or construction on state land.
• Pricing and Payment: The price and payment plan for each housing unit or apartment are decided by the government.

Model 2: Private Housing Schemes (20,000 Units)

This model focuses on building low-cost houses in at least 20% of the residential area in private housing schemes approved by PHATA under the Affordable Private Housing Scheme (APHS) Rules 2020. Key points include:

• Affordable Housing Allocation: Ensuring that at least 20% of the residential area in each private housing scheme is dedicated to affordable housing for low-income individuals and families.
• Approval Process: The Government of Punjab simplifies the approval process by using a one-window system, ensuring that NOCs from each department are granted within set timelines.
• Construction and Subsidy: Developers build affordable houses with the size, design, and price decided by PHATA. The government provides a subsidy of up to 1 million PKR per unit.
• Payment and Allotment: Allottees make a down payment to the developer through an Escrow account managed jointly by the developer and PHATA. The remaining amount is paid in monthly installments over five years.
• Monitoring: PHATA supervises and monitors the construction of the houses or units, with payments from the Escrow account to the developer made once agreed milestones are achieved.

Model 3: Interest-Free Loans (70,000 Units)

This model offers interest-free loans for house construction through a special Revolving Fund set up to provide these loans to eligible individuals under the following conditions:

• Eligibility: Applicants must be residents of Punjab with a residential plot of up to 5 Marla in urban areas or up to 10 Marla in rural areas.
• Loan Amount: The maximum loan amount is 1.5 million PKR.
• Repayment: The loan is repayable over seven years in easy monthly installments.
• Disbursement: The loan amount is given to beneficiaries in stages (tranches).
• Fund Sustainability: The Revolving Fund continues as beneficiaries repay their installments.
• Government Support: The Government of Punjab covers operational costs and sales tax.

Application Process

Interested individuals can apply for the “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” program through the following steps:

1. Online Registration: Visit the official ACAG website at acag.punjab.gov.pk and fill out the Citizen Registration Form with accurate personal information.
2. Account Creation: Create an account by providing details such as full name, CNIC, father’s or husband’s name, gender, email, mobile number, division, district, tehsil, and city.
3. Application Form: After registration, log in to your account and complete the application form, which includes sections on general information, property information, and household socio-economic information.
4. Document Upload: Upload required documents, including property ownership documents and CNIC (front and back).
5. Submission: Review all entered information and submit the application.

For those unable to apply online, offline applications can be submitted at the registration desk located in the Deputy Commissioner’s Office of their district.

Contact Information

For further assistance or inquiries, applicants can contact the Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency (PHATA) through the following:

• Phone Numbers: 042-99213419, 042-99213428, or 0800-09100
• Email: [email protected]