PM Apna Ghar programme: 53,100 housing loans approved since June 2026: Schehzad

ISLAMABAD: The PM Apna Ghar programme has witnessed a sharp acceleration, with financing approvals crossing Rs 313 billion in just two months, registering a 117 percent increase, as the initiative begins to generate fresh activity across the construction and housing sector.

According to figures shared by Khurram Schehzad, Advisor to the Finance Minister, more than 53,100 housing loans have been approved under the programme since June 2026, showing an increase of 111 percent.

The amount actually disbursed has also risen sharply, with more than 8,700 loans involving over Rs 45 billion disbursed so far, reflecting increases of 83 percent and 120 percent, respectively.

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He said that the rapid expansion in housing finance is expected to have implications beyond home ownership, particularly for the construction sector and allied industries, as increased access to financing could translate into higher demand for cement, steel, building materials and related services.

The programme could also provide a boost to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating across the housing and construction value chain, potentially creating additional employment opportunities and supporting economic activity.

The latest financing figures come against the backdrop of a substantial housing deficit in Pakistan. The country’s housing shortfall is estimated at between 10 million and 12 million units, while an additional 350,000 to 400,000 houses are required annually to meet growing demand, he added.

The widening gap between housing demand and supply presents a sizeable investment opportunity, particularly if expanding mortgage finance is accompanied by a corresponding increase in housing construction.

Schehzad said the growing availability of housing finance could create opportunities for both domestic and international investors in housing development, modular and affordable housing, climate-resilient and energy-efficient construction, building materials and associated industries.

The government’s broader objective is to use improved access to housing finance as a catalyst for economic activity, linking household borrowing with construction, industrial demand, SME activity and employment generation.

With housing construction having strong linkages with cement, steel, electrical goods, furniture, transport and other services, a sustained expansion in housing finance could provide a broader stimulus to economic activity.

The government is therefore seeking to position affordable housing finance not merely as a social intervention but as a potential driver of private investment, construction activity and employment, the Advisor added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026