• Over 53,000 loans approved, Rs45.4bn disbursed among over 8,700 applicants
• Premier assures new AJK prime minister of full federal support

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday ordered the provincial chief secretaries to conduct a comprehensive survey of properties which could be used to facilitate loans under the PM’s Apna Ghar Scheme.

Presiding over a meeting on the Access to Finance Plan 2026-2028, the PM said affordable housing for the low-income and middle-class segments was his government’s top priority. He was informed that the scheme had received 147,504 applications so far, of which 53,127 had been approved.

The total value of approved loan applications stands at Rs313.42 billion, while loans amounting to Rs45.43bn have been disbursed to 8,739 applicants. A system is being developed to identify plots across the country that meet mortgage requirements, with Islamabad serving as the pilot city, the meeting was informed.

Similarly, an effective mechanism will be devised to involve renowned housing developers in the process to streamline the Apna Ghar Scheme. The PM urged the banks and financial institutions to play their role in extending loans to farmers, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the housing sector.

“The government would encourage banks that play an active role in providing loans,” he said, adding that the agriculture sector was the backbone of the country’s economy, and working for its promotion was a national responsibility. The prime minister directed that easy and uninterrupted access to financial resources be ensured for farmers.

The meeting was informed that the volume of bank lending to the agriculture sector stood at Rs1.268 trillion in August 2026, while a target of Rs2tr by June 2028 has been set under the Access to Finance Plan 2026-2028.

Under the Zarkhez-e app, 35,838 applications have been received for easy access to loans. Of these, Rs7.35bn has been approved, while loans amounting to Rs1.96bn have been disbursed.

The volume of bank lending to the SME sector stood at Rs1.067tr as of August 2026, while a target of Rs2tr by June 2028 has been set under the Access to Finance Plan 2026-2028, the meeting was informed. Small and Med­ium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) provided financial literacy training to 1,096 SMEs during the last three months, the meeting was informed.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers Ahad Khan Cheema, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Muhammad Aurangzeb and Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, Prime Minister’s Adviser Haroon Akhtar Khan, State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmad, chief secretaries of all four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, World Bank Country Director Bolormaa Amgaabazar, presidents and CEOs of Pakistani banks, and other senior government officials attended the meeting.

Meeting with AJK PM

Later, the prime minister met with Iftikhar Ali Gillani and congratulated him on assuming office as the newly elected prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

During the meeting, PM Shehbaz said the government of Pakistan would continue extending full cooperation to the AJK government for the welfare and well-being of the people of the territory, according to a PM Office statement.

The prime minister reaffirmed that the federal government would continue taking all possible measures for the development and prosperity of the people of AJK. The two leaders also held detailed discussions on peace, development and ongoing welfare projects in AJK.

Iftikhar Ali Gillani thanked PM Shehbaz for his support and expressed his resolve to utilise all his capabilities for the development of the region and the welfare of its people.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2026