Punjab’s flagship ‘Apni Chhat Apna Ghar’ scheme selected for UN award

LAHORE: Punjab’s flagship “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” housing programme has been selected for the 2026 United Nations-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award, recognising its contribution to expanding access to adequate, safe and affordable housing for low-income households.

The Punjab government has been invited to receive the award on October 5 during the global observance of World Habitat Day in Muscat, Oman, according to a formal notification issued by UN-Habitat.

The notification, dated September 14 and signed by UN-Habitat Executive Director and United Nations Under-Secretary-General Anacláudia Marinheiro Centeno Rossbach, formally confirmed the selection of the Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency (PHATA) and its Apni Chhat Apna Ghar Programme for the award.

“We have received the intimation letter from UN-Habitat officially through an email on Monday,” PHATA Director General Khwaja Muhammad Zeeshan Sikandar told Dawn.

UN-Habitat said that the selection followed a rigorous competitive process based on established evaluation criteria for nominations received from around the world.

Rossbach said many candidates had been considered for the award and that it was the unanimous view of UN-Habitat that PHATA and its housing programme should be formally recognised for their contribution to expanding access to adequate, safe and affordable housing for low-income households.

The award ceremony will be held in Muscat on October 5 as part of World Habitat Day activities.

The celebrations will continue from October 6 to 8 with a series of workshops organised by the City of Muscat, providing participants an opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience, according to the notification.

UN-Habitat will support the recipient’s participation by providing an economy-class air ticket, accommodation and a daily subsistence allowance, as well as travel information and logistical assistance.

The Punjab government had begun efforts last year to secure a nomination for the housing programme.

Housing programme

The Apni Chhat Apna Ghar programme was launched in March 2024 to help low-income families build houses on plots they already own through interest-free loans.

According to official figures, interest-free loans amounting to Rs259.68 billion had been disbursed to 200,072 applicants across Punjab as of September 10, 2026.

The programme is being implemented through PHATA and is intended to expand access to housing among households that may otherwise struggle to obtain financing through conventional channels.

The UN-Habitat recognition comes as the Punjab government continues to expand the programme and promote it as part of its housing policy for low-income families.

Environmental initiatives

Separately, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz marked the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer by highlighting the province’s environmental initiatives.

She said environmental protection was not only a responsibility but also an act of worship, and said Punjab had implemented a comprehensive environmental policy.

Maryam said 50 million trees had been planted across 50,000 acres of land in the province.

She also said electric bus services were being introduced in every district and tehsil, while electric bikes for the public, students and women and a Green Taxi service had also been introduced.

The initiatives form part of the provincial government’s efforts to promote cleaner transport and address environmental concerns.