ACAG Programme: Minister for removal of obstacles to loan disbursement

LAHORE: Punjab Housing and Urban Development Minister Bilal Yasin directed relevant institutions on Monday to eliminate unnecessary delays and obstacles in the disbursement of loan installments under the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar (ACAG) Programme.

During a high-level review meeting, which included Secretary Housing Noor-ul-Amin Mengal and Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency (PHATA) Director General Sikandar Zeeshan, the Minister emphasised a zero-tolerance policy regarding delays, especially in releasing the second installment within the designated time frame.

The meeting focused on the disbursement of interest-free loans, the scrutiny of applications, and the timely payment of loan instalments under the ACAG Programme. It was revealed that over Rs264 billion has been disbursed to more than 200,000 deserving families across the province.

In line with the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Yasin instructed for weekly progress monitoring, obtaining direct feedback from beneficiaries through telephone calls, and improving coordination among partner institutions, including the Bank of Punjab, Akhuwat, and the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP), to ensure complete transparency and adherence to merit.

The Minister made it clear that there would be no tolerance for delays in the payment of the second instalment following the disbursement of the first instalment. Relevant institutions must enhance the instalment disbursement process and promptly address any unnecessary delays in application processing.

He also instructed that applications and loan instalments under the ACAG Programme be monitored weekly. Regular reviews would be conducted to assess programme progress, the scrutiny of applications, loan approvals, and the disbursement of instalments.

“The Bank of Punjab, Akhuwat, NRSP, and other relevant institutions must play a more effective role in ensuring timely disbursement of loan instalments to deserving families. Furthermore, all concerned institutions should accelerate and enhance the transparency of the loan disbursement process through effective coordination and monitoring,” he stated.

According to Yasin, there would be no compromise on transparency and merit in the ACAG Programme. Facilitating deserving families is the government’s priority, and unnecessary hurdles or delays at any level will not be tolerated. Additionally, the administrative system of the programme should be further improved based on public feedback, and issues faced by beneficiaries should be resolved promptly. The government’s objective is not just to provide loans but to enable deserving families to build their own homes and secure a safe and dignified future.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026