Provincial Minister for Housing and Urban Development Bilal Yasin directly contacted families benefiting from the 'Apni Chhat Apna Ghar' programme to inquire about the progress of house construction and their current situation. During telephone conversations, the minister spoke with Mukhtar Ahmed from Bahawalpur and Sajida Parveen from Sahiwal to obtain updates on their construction projects.
He also contacted Sam Sang, a resident of Sargodha belonging to a minority community, to inquire about the house being built with the assistance of an interest-free loan. During the calls, the beneficiary families were asked whether they needed any recommendations to obtain the loans or if anyone had demanded a bribe.
All beneficiaries answered both questions in the negative. Bilal Yasin stated that the 'Apni Chhat Apna Ghar' programme is an exemplary initiative based on transparency, merit, and public service.
He noted that this pro-poor programme is not only enabling deserving families to fulfill their dream of homeownership but is also strengthening public confidence in merit-based government initiatives. The minister stated that interest-free loans have so far been approved for more than 224,000 deserving families, helping thousands turn their dream of owning a home into reality.
Providing a divisional breakdown, Bilal Yasin said that 29,658 families in Sargodha Division, 26,903 in Rawalpindi Division, and 26,878 in Dera Ghazi Khan Division have benefited from interest-free loans. Similarly, 26,165 families in Gujranwala Division, 25,468 in Lahore Division, and 25,402 in Faisalabad Division have received loans under the programme.
In Bahawalpur Division, 21,804 families have benefited, while 13,584 families in Sahiwal Division have received financial assistance. Bilal Yasin directed authorities to establish direct contact with beneficiaries across all districts to obtain public feedback.
He emphasised that this feedback would be used to further strengthen transparency, ensure merit, and improve the effective implementation of the programme so that more families can benefit. The minister reiterated that the government is committed to the welfare of the underprivileged segments of society.
He mentioned that the monitoring process will continue to ensure that the funds are utilized correctly and that the construction standards are maintained according to the set guidelines. He further added that the provincial government is monitoring the progress of the housing units through a digital dashboard.
This technological integration allows for real-time tracking of the construction phases, ensuring that the beneficiaries receive the installments on time without any bureaucratic hurdles. The beneficiaries expressed their satisfaction with the process, noting that the direct communication from the minister has boosted their morale.
They highlighted that the interest-free nature of the loan has significantly reduced their financial burden, allowing them to focus entirely on the quality of construction. In conclusion, the 'Apni Chhat Apna Ghar' programme stands as a testament to the government's resolve to provide affordable housing.
By maintaining a transparent and merit-based approach, the administration aims to expand the scope of this project to reach even more families in the coming phases.