PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur on Monday said the Ehsaas Apna Ghar housing scheme, a flagship and pro-poor initiative of the provincial government, was a step towards realising the vision of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf founder Imran Khan to provide housing facility to the underprivileged people.

After launching the housing scheme and distributing loan cheques during a special ceremony at the Chief Minister’s House here, Mr Gandapur said most economic challenges of the province were resolved, through tireless efforts adding that the province was financially stable.

“We will continue to enhance our resources and spend them on public welfare. We aim to deliver services across all sectors and resolve issues on the people’s doorstep,” the chief minister said in an official statement issued from the chief minister’s secretariat.

It read that the scheme is aimed at providing interest-free loans to low-income families for the construction, expansion and renovation of their houses.

Insists province’s most economic issues ‘resolved’

During his speech, the chief minister lauded the efforts of the housing department and the Bank of Khyber in implementing the scheme.

Mr Gandapur announced that the government would soon launch a project to solarise houses for deserving households and said that “complete transparency and merit” were ensured in both the Ehsaas Apna Ghar and upcoming solar energy schemes.

He said that several housing projects were underway to provide quality residential facilities across the province, including rapid progress on the New Peshawar Valley project.The chief minister emphasised that the upcoming fiscal year’s budget included substantial investments in health, education, clean drinking water, infrastructure, and other key sectors.

The statement read that the chief minister distributed cheques among the successful applicants adding that a total of Rs4 billion was allocated for the provision of interest-free loans under the scheme.

To ensure cent percent transparency, applicants were selected through a computerised balloting system, it read adding that the scheme targets individuals aged 18 to 65 years with a monthly income of less than Rs50,000.

Eligible applicants can receive up to Rs1.5 million in interest-free loans to be reimbursed in easy installments over a seven-year period, it read adding the initiative also includes a revolving fund system to ensure the continued disbursement of loans in the coming years.

In the first phase of the scheme, 123,000 applications were received, of which 18,555 met the eligibility criteria. Loans are being distributed across all districts of the province based on population ratios.

Special assistant to the chief minister on housing Dr. Amjad and housing secretary Mahmood Aslam also addressed the ceremony and provided a detailed overview of the various aspects of the Ehsaas Apna Ghar scheme.

The event was attended by cabinet members Meena Khan Afridi, Muzammil Aslam, Dr Amjad and Rangaiz Ahmad, along with officials from the housing department.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2025