Punjab expands housing, land lease, education programs

Since early July 2026 the Punjab provincial government has rolled out a coordinated set of social‑welfare measures targeting low‑income households. The flagship “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” housing scheme was broadened to offer interest‑free loans of Rs 500,000‑Rs 1 million for roof repairs, home renovation or adding a floor. By early July 170,000 families had already benefited, and the government plans to extend loans to another 100,000 families in the next fiscal year, with repayment spread over seven years through an online portal. A parallel set of loan products – Apni Chhat Mehfooz Chhat and Apni Chhat Apna Ghar – was launched in August, adding eligibility criteria (age 21‑60, ownership limits, clean credit record) and a streamlined application process via a dedicated website, local facilitation desks and a toll‑free helpline.

The “Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar” lease programme allocated 121,000 acres to 30,000 land‑less families on 20‑year leases at a symbolic Rs 100 per acre, with Rs 50,000 per acre for land preparation and technical support. Computerised balloting, a 20 % quota for women and district‑level oversight aim to strengthen rural livelihoods and agricultural output.

A third pillar, the “Nawaz Sharif Centre of Excellence” network, provides free schooling for children from families earning up to Rs 200,000 per month. Classes of 30 students, with 10 % of seats reserved for fee‑paying families, are to be rolled out across all divisions, districts and tehsils, improving access to quality education in remote areas.

Together, these initiatives seek to alleviate housing shortages, landlessness and educational gaps while generating up to half‑a‑million construction jobs and boosting human capital across Punjab.