Free Plots Allotted to Homeless Families Under ‘Apni Zameen, Apna Ghar’ Initiative

By Farzana Chaudhry
Lahore, Pakistan
LAHORE — On the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Provincial Minister for Housing Bilal Yasin conducted the computerized balloting of plot numbers under the government’s “Apni Zameen, Apna Ghar” initiative, aimed at providing free residential plots to homeless and deserving families.
Secretary Housing Noor-ul-Amin Mengal and Director General Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency (PHATA) Sikandar Zeeshan were also present at the ceremony.
Under the scheme, 2,000 free plots across 19 districts have been allotted. Following the transparent balloting process, successful applicants were assigned their respective block and plot numbers. Bilal Yasin personally contacted selected beneficiaries from Jhelum and Kasur to inform them about their plot numbers, sizes and block details. Many recipients expressed surprise and gratitude, saying that receiving a free government plot without recommendation was beyond their expectations.
The provincial minister said that in the coming days, the chief minister will formally distribute allotment letters to successful applicants. He emphasized that the plots are being provided completely free of cost, without any charges. Beneficiaries will also be eligible to apply for interest-free loans under the “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” program to construct their homes.
The three-marla plots have been allotted in districts including Okara, Attock, Bhakkar, Layyah, Lodhran, Sahiwal, Rajanpur, Vehari, Chiniot, Jhang, Faisalabad and Gujrat. Residents of Mandi Bahauddin, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Sargodha and Khushab are also benefiting from the scheme.
The beneficiaries include street vendors, shopkeepers, drivers, mechanics and daily wage earners, selected through a transparent computerized draw.
Bilal Yasin said that decades-old, unoccupied PHATA schemes have now been converted into public housing projects. He noted that while private land in surrounding areas is being sold at prices reaching Rs2.5 million per marla, the Punjab government has fulfilled its commitment to provide housing facilities to deserving families.
More than 380,000 applications were received through the online portal for the scheme, reflecting overwhelming public response.