ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed authorities to further simplify procedures and speed up loan approvals under the Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar scheme, stressing that greater relief for applicants would help more citizens realize their dream of owning a home.
The prime minister, who chaired a review meeting on the progress of the housing initiative, said the strong public response to the scheme was extremely encouraging and reflected the growing demand for affordable housing, a press release from the prime minister’s office said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Shari said, “Participation of a large number of citizens in the Apna Ghar scheme is highly welcome. If we continue at the current pace, the dream of home ownership for maximum number of deserving people will be fulfilled.”
During the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif directed the housing ministry to work with the State Bank of Pakistan to make the application form more user-friendly and easier to understand for applicants. He also directed the banks to expedite the approval process of valid applications and ensure timely disbursement of loans.
With an emphasis on wider reach, the Prime Minister ordered the authorities to intensify the nationwide awareness campaign so that more eligible citizens could benefit from the programme.
To address difficulties faced by applicants in obtaining land ownership documents, he directed provincial governments to establish district-level facilitation desks dedicated to the Apna Ghar scheme.
The meeting was informed that loans worth Rs 11 billion had been disbursed so far under the programme. Officials said the number of applications had increased significantly after the government simplified the scheme’s rules and regulations in March this year.
According to the briefing, a total of 67,900 applications have been received from all over the country. Of these, 16,587 applications have been approved, while 3,146 beneficiaries have already received loan payments.
The meeting was also told that the State Bank of Pakistan had made it mandatory for banks to process applications for Apna Ghar Scheme within 15 days.
Railway reforms
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday approved a comprehensive strategic roadmap aimed at overhauling Pakistan Railways and directed authorities to prioritize freight services, attract private investment and modernize the country’s railway network to transform it into a safe, affordable and efficient mode of transport.
Chairing a high-level meeting on railway reforms, the prime minister said that Pakistan Railways possessed immense potential to become a reliable and cost-effective transport system for both passengers and freight, while contributing to economic growth and regional connectivity, a press release from the prime minister’s office said.
