LAHORE: The Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, on Friday digitally launched the portal for the “Apni Chhat, Mehfooz Chhat” (My Roof, Safe Roof) project initiated in memory of the children who had lost their lives in the Kahna roof collapse tragedy.
Under the scheme, Punjab residents will be eligible for an interest-free loan of Rs500,000 to strengthen and secure the roofs of their homes.
An interest-free loan of up to Rs1 million will also be available for constructing additional rooms or adding a second storey.
The chief minister thanked the housing department for launching the portal and said that the monthly instalment for the interest-free loan scheme be reduced from Rs14,000 to approximately Rs4,700 to Rs9,300, making the programme more affordable for low-income households.
The CM appreciated Housing Minister Bilal Yasin and Secretary Noor-ul-Amin Mengal and their team for developing the project. During a briefing, the minister informed the chief minister that people could apply online through acag.punjab.gov.pk, or submit applications at the offices of the deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners and PHATA.
A dedicated helpline (0800-09100) has also been established to facilitate applicants.
The briefing further stated that under the “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” (My Roof, My Home) programme, 173,158 interest-free loans amounting to Rs224.457 billion had so far been disbursed.
Addressing the launching ceremony, the chief minister said a house was not merely a structure of bricks and mortar but a symbol of protection and security.
Recalling the Kahna tragedy, she said the collapse of a roof during construction, which had claimed the life of 14 children, had deeply shaken her.
“I could not sleep the entire night after the Kahna tragedy,” she said, adding that the grief of parents who had lost their children could only be understood by another parent.
The CM said she had personally witnessed and felt the endless sorrow of a mother affected by the tragedy, adding that the government had therefore launched the “Apni Chhat, Mehfooz Chhat” project to ensure that every home in Punjab was structurally safe.
The chief minister said the “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” programme had become widely popular and enabled around 200,000 families to move from rented accommodation into homes of their own.
She said financially disadvantaged and low-income families would be able to obtain loans on simple terms to strengthen unsafe roofs.
A loan of Rs500,000 would be repayable over nine years through a monthly instalment of Rs4,700.
She added that the initiative was aimed at protecting people from human and financial losses.
The Punjab government would bear the processing fee and other associated charges for the loans.
Instead of lengthy procedures, every Punjab resident would be able to apply using only a valid Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC), she said, adding that the scheme had been designed with simplified conditions and affordable monthly repayments.
The Punjab CM further announced that families sharing a residence would also be eligible for an interest-free loan of Rs1 million for constructing additional rooms or another floor. She said beneficiaries would be given a three-month grace period, with repayment commencing from the fourth month.
Referring to the “Apni Zameen, Apna Ghar” programme, the chief minister said allotment of 2,000 plots had already been completed, and the allottees would also be eligible to apply for an interest-free loan of Rs1.5 million.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026