Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has decided to introduce the “Apna Ghar, Mahfuz Ghar” programme to strengthen dilapidated and unsafe residential houses across the province. The aim of this initiative is to provide financial support to families who are forced to live in weak roofs or dilapidated buildings so that human lives can be protected from possible dangers.
In a special review meeting chaired by the chief minister, officials presented the proposed details of the programme. According to the briefing, financial assistance of up to five hundred thousand rupees will be provided to deserving families for the repair of such houses, strengthening of roofs and safety construction works, while those who want to build an additional floor in their house or build a new house will be provided with interest-free loans of up to one million rupees on easy instalments.
During the meeting, the progress of the “Apna Ghar, Mahfuz Ghar” project was also presented. According to officials, loans have been approved for more than 180,000 families, while funds have been released to more than 170,000 deserving families. A total of Rs 217.8 billion has been allocated for the project. More than 27,500 houses are in the final stages of completion across Punjab, while more than 134,000 houses have been completed and handed over to deserving families.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed in the meeting that the second instalment of the loan should be released to the deserving people within a maximum of three days so that there is no delay in construction activities. She said that the success of public welfare projects is linked to timely implementation, and administrative laxity will not be acceptable under any circumstances.
The chief minister also stressed that the procedure for obtaining loans should be further simplified so that low-income families are protected from unnecessary office complications. She said that the government’s priority is not only to build new houses but also to make the existing unsafe houses habitable and safe.
He further announced that the two thousand homeless families who have been given free residential plots in the first phase will also be provided with interest-free loans for the construction of houses. According to the Chief Minister, the government will ensure that citizens living in weak-roofed and dilapidated buildings can get safe housing and such unfortunate incidents can be prevented in the future.
According to analysts, if this programme is implemented effectively, it will not only create safe housing opportunities for low-income families but can also create new economic activities and employment opportunities in the construction sector.