Wazir-e-Azam Apna Ghar Programme: SBP bars bank employees from availing financing

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has barred the employees of banks, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and Microfinance Banks (MFBs) for getting house financing under the Wazir-e-Azam Apna Ghar Program-Ghar Ho Tu Apna.

“The Banks’, DFIs’ and MFBs’ own employees are not eligible for availing financing under Wazir-e-Azam Apna Ghar Program(WA-AGP)”, the SBP said in circular letter issued on September 14, 2026.

The federal government, in April this year, launched a subsidized housing finance scheme, titled Wazir-e-Azam Apna Ghar Program, “Ghar Ho Tu Apna,” aimed at making affordable housing finance more accessible to eligible citizens across the country.

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Under the scheme, any individual who does not own a house in their name is eligible to avail housing finance of up to Rs100 million at a fixed interest rate of 5 percent for the initial 10 years, through a transparent and streamlined process.

However, on Tuesday, the SBP issued a clarification relate to the housing finance scheme and according to the SBP, the own employees of banks, DFIs and MFBs are specifically excluded from availing financing under the Wazir-e-Azam Apna Ghar Program.

The SBP has further advised the banks to inform their branches and field staff about this clarification and ensure meticulous compliance.

The SBP has directed banks and other financial institutions to ensure that the latest clarification is communicated to their branches and field staff so that applications under the scheme are processed in accordance with the eligibility requirements.

The SBP’s circular letter issued on September 14, 2026, has effectively removes any ambiguity regarding the eligibility of employees of participating financial institutions under the Pime Minister housing finance scheme. Therefore, an employee working for a bank, DFI or MFB cannot obtain financing under WA-AGP, even if the individual otherwise meets other requirements of the programme.

It may be mentioned here that, the wasWA-AGP formally launched on April 30, 2026 with consultations of private sector, finance ministry and (SBP).

The programme is a nationwide effort, covering all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir, with no regional restrictions on eligibility. During this fiscal year, the government targets to approve financing for 150,000 houses.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026