In a landmark achievement for social development and urban welfare in South Asia, the Punjab Government’s flagship housing initiative, "Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar," has officially received international acclaim. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif accepted the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award 2026 at a ceremony held at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre in Muscat on World Habitat Day. This honor places Pakistan alongside global leaders in innovative urban planning, affordable housing models, and sustainable community building.
The UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour is widely recognized as the world's most prestigious award in human settlements and urban development. Established to honor institutions and public policy frameworks that make extraordinary contributions toward providing adequate, affordable housing and improving basic urban living standards, this recognition highlights the rapid scaling and tangible social impact of the Punjab initiative.
The core strength of the "Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar" initiative lies in its structural design. Designed as Pakistan's first fully digitized housing finance scheme, the program leverages data from the Punjab Socio-Economic Registry (PSER) to identify eligible families transparently. To date, the program has dispersed approximately Rs260 billion in interest-free loans, directly benefiting over 200,000 families across the province. Over 125,000 low-income households have already transitioned from sub-standard living conditions or heavy rent burdens into their own completed homes.
By eliminating commercial interest burdens and removing bureaucratic barriers through digital loan processing, the program resolves long-standing access issues that previously prevented marginalized citizens from securing mortgage financing. During her acceptance address in Muscat, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz dedicated the award to the people of Punjab, reaffirming her administration's commitment to expanding shelter as a fundamental human right rather than a commercial luxury.
Beyond localized relief, the UN-Habitat recognition signals a shift in how social safety nets are deployed in emerging markets. By proving that interest-free housing frameworks can operate at scale without collapsing under credit risk or administrative overhead, Punjab’s model provides a viable template for other developing nations striving to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
