Punjab’s ‘Apni Chhat Apna Ghar’ programme wins UN-Habitat honour

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has received the prestigious UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award in Oman in recognition of the provincial government’s flagship housing initiative, Apni Chhat Apna Ghar.

The award recognises the programme’s efforts to provide affordable housing to eligible residents across Punjab. The initiative was officially launched on August 21, 2024, with implementation planned over a period of four and a half years.

Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb described the honour as a significant achievement for Pakistan and said it represented international recognition of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s vision to provide ordinary families with secure homes, dignity and greater economic stability.

Aurangzeb said more than 200,000 homes had already been delivered across Punjab under the programme, adding that the initiative was helping transform the lives of families by providing them with greater housing security.

The Apni Chhat Apna Ghar programme primarily targets low-income households living in rented accommodation or informal settlements and aims to help eligible families acquire homes of their own.

Punjab Education Minister Sikandar Hayat also welcomed the international recognition and acknowledged the efforts of Housing Minister Bilal Yaseen and other officials in implementing the chief minister’s housing vision.

He said the award reflected the commitment and dedication behind the programme and its efforts to turn the vision of affordable housing into reality.