Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz presented the ‘Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar’ housing program at the World Urban Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan [1, 2].
The initiative aims to provide affordable housing for low-income families and modernize urban living in Punjab. By showcasing the program on an international stage, the provincial government seeks to establish Punjab as a leader in innovative urban development [1, 2].
During the forum on May 20, 2026, Nawaz said that the housing scheme has achieved a top world ranking [1]. The program has seen significant rapid growth, with more than 100,000 homes completed within one year [2].
Building on this momentum, the provincial government expanded the initiative on July 8, 2026, with the approval of the ‘Apna Ghar, Mehfooz Ghar’ category [3]. This new safety-focused initiative is designed to identify and reinforce structurally weak homes to protect residents from potential collapses or disasters [3].
While the primary focus of the recent announcements centered on housing and urban safety, separate reports from ARY News indicated that the government also promised laptops, iPads, and e-bikes for students in Punjab [4]. This addition to the provincial agenda was not mentioned in reports from other mainstream news outlets [1, 2, 3].
Nawaz used the Punjab Pavilion in Baku to demonstrate how the province is tackling the housing crisis through a combination of financial support and structural oversight [2]. The effort combines the creation of new residential units with the preservation of existing infrastructure through the safety-home category [3].
“Over 100,000 homes completed within one year”
The integration of a safety-specific category into the housing scheme suggests a shift from mere quantity—building new units—to quality and risk management. By presenting these results at the World Urban Forum, Punjab is attempting to leverage international validation to solidify domestic political support for its infrastructure projects.
