Apna Ghar Mehfooz Ghar is the Punjab government's interest-free loan (qarza) for families who already own a small house. Its official name on the portal is Apni Chhat Mehfooz Chhat. You can borrow up to Rs500,000 to repair a weak roof or add a room, or up to Rs1,000,000 to build an extra storey. Both loans run for 9 years, with monthly instalments (kist) of about Rs4,700 and Rs9,300. You apply free of charge at acag.punjab.gov.pk using the separate "Apni Chhat Mehfooz Chhat" button. As of 15 October 2026 applications are open and no last date has been announced.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Official name | Apni Chhat Mehfooz Chhat (approved as "Apna Ghar, Mehfooz Ghar") |
| Run by | Punjab Housing & Town Planning Agency (PHATA), under the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar (ACAG) programme |
| Approved | 8 July 2026, at a meeting chaired by CM Maryam Nawaz |
| Portal launched | 17 July 2026 |
| Category 01 | Repair or strengthen a weak roof, or add a room: up to Rs500,000 |
| Category 02 | Build an additional storey or floor: up to Rs1,000,000 |
| Interest | None (interest-free). The government pays processing fees and charges. |
| Repayment period | 9 years for both categories |
| Monthly instalment | About Rs4,700 (Rs500,000) or Rs9,300 (Rs1m) |
| Grace period | 3 months; repayment starts from the 4th month |
| Money released | In two parts (for a new storey: at approval and at lintel level) |
| Key eligibility | Punjab resident, age 21-60, owns a built house up to 5 marla (urban) / 10 marla (rural), PMT score 60 or less |
| Apply | Online at acag.punjab.gov.pk, or at DC / AC offices and PHATA offices |
| Helpline | 0800-09100 (toll-free) |
| Last date | Not announced (as of 15 October 2026) |
What is the Apna Ghar Mehfooz Ghar programme?
The Apna Ghar Mehfooz Ghar programme ("My Home, Safe Home") gives interest-free loans to low-income families in Punjab. It is meant for people who already have a house, but whose roof is weak or whose house is too small for the family.
The idea came after a tragedy in Kahna, Lahore. On 30 June 2026, the roof of a tuition centre inside a house collapsed and 14 children died. A week later, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz approved two new loan categories under the existing Apni Chhat Apna Ghar programme.
When the online portal opened on 17 July 2026, the scheme was launched as Apni Chhat Mehfooz Chhat ("My Roof, Safe Roof"). So the two names mean the same thing. People also search for it as "apni chat mehfooz chat" or "mehfooz ghar scheme".
What can the loan be used for?
- Repairing or strengthening a weak, cracked or old roof (chhat).
- Fixing a dilapidated (khasta haal) structure so it is safe to live in.
- Adding a room to the existing house.
- Building a new storey or floor, for example when two families share one house.
The loan is not for buying a plot or building a new house from scratch. For that, see the main Apni Chhat Apna Ghar loan or the free plots under Apni Zameen Apna Ghar.
Loan categories and amounts
When you click the Mehfooz Chhat button on the portal, you see two categories. These details come from the official loan category page.
| Feature | Category 01 | Category 02 |
|---|---|---|
| Portal title | Improve and strengthen your existing home | Expand your home with an additional storey |
| Use | Repair and strengthen weak or dilapidated roofs; add a room | Construct an additional storey or floor |
| Maximum loan | Rs500,000 (5 lakh) | Rs1,000,000 (10 lakh) |
| Tenure | 9 years | 9 years |
| Monthly instalment | About Rs4,700 | About Rs9,300 |
| How money is released | Two instalments | Two tranches: at approval and at lintel level |
One small difference to note: news reports in July said the Rs1 million loan covers "additional rooms or another storey". The portal itself puts "adding a room" under Category 01. If you only need one extra room, ask the helpline which category fits your case.
Apna Ghar Mehfooz Ghar calculator: instalment examples
The loan has no interest, so the maths is simple. You return only the amount you borrow, spread over 9 years (108 months). The government has published approximate instalments for the full amounts.
| Loan amount | Monthly kist | Months | Status of figure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rs1,000,000 | about Rs9,300 | 108 | Official (announced 17 July 2026) |
| Rs500,000 | about Rs4,700 | 108 | Official (announced 17 July 2026) |
| Rs300,000 | about Rs2,780 | 108 | Our estimate (loan ÷ 108) |
| Rs200,000 | about Rs1,850 | 108 | Our estimate (loan ÷ 108) |
The official kist figures are rounded, so your exact schedule may differ by a few rupees. Smaller loans are our own rough estimates, because the limits are "up to" amounts. Your final schedule will be in your loan documents.
Two more points matter for your budget:
- Grace period: the CM said at the launch that borrowers get 3 months' grace, and repayment starts from the 4th month.
- Early payment rebate: the ACAG portal carries a general notice that full early repayment earns a rebate on the outstanding principal: 20% if paid off in years 1-3 and 10% in years 4-6. The notice does not say whether Mehfooz Chhat loans are covered, so confirm with the helpline.
For the main Rs1.5 million housing loan, use our Apna Ghar loan calculator.
Eligibility criteria
The official eligibility page on acag.punjab.gov.pk has a separate column for Apni Chhat Mehfooz Chhat. To qualify, you must:
- Be a resident of Punjab with a valid CNIC.
- Be registered in the NSER/PSER socio-economic registry with a PMT score of 60 or less.
- Own a constructed house of up to 5 marla in urban areas or 10 marla in rural areas.
- Be 21 to 60 years old on the day you apply.
- Have no criminal record.
- Not be a loan defaulter with any bank or financial institution.
Your personal and property records are checked through NADRA and the Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA). Do you not know your PMT score? Read our guide on the Apna Ghar PMT score check first.
At the launch the CM said residents could apply "using only a valid CNIC". The official portal, however, lists PMT 60 or less as a condition for Mehfooz Chhat. Follow the portal, because it decides your eligibility.
Apna Ghar Mehfooz Ghar online apply: step by step
The application is free. You do not need an agent. Keep your CNIC and a mobile number in your own name ready before you start.
- Open the official portal acag.punjab.gov.pk on your phone or computer.
- Find the button "Apni Chhat Mehfooz Chhat - Apply for Addition of New Floor/Room". Do not click the first button; that one is for the new-house loan.
- Choose your category: Category 01 (roof repair / room, up to Rs500,000) or Category 02 (extra storey, up to Rs1m). Press "Apply".
- Fill in the Citizen Registration Form: full name, CNIC, father's or husband's name and CNIC, gender, mobile network and number, and your division, district, tehsil and city.
- Tap "Get Verification Code". Enter the code that comes by SMS, then set a password and register.
- Log in with your CNIC and password. Complete the application with your house (property) details and household information.
- Upload the documents asked for (see the list below), check every entry, and submit.
- Note your details and log in later to follow your application. Our status check guide and login portal guide explain the dashboard.
Apply offline (without internet)
If you cannot use the internet, help desks take applications by hand. Go to the office of your Deputy Commissioner or Assistant Commissioner, or to a PHATA regional or deputy director office. Staff there enter the form on the same portal.
Documents required
Official reports list three main documents. Photograph them clearly before you begin.
- CNIC (original, valid, not expired).
- Proof of house ownership, such as the Fard or registry in your name.
- Photographs of the existing house, especially the roof or the area you want to repair or build on.
The registration form also asks for a mobile number for the SMS code and your father's or husband's CNIC number. A full printable list for all Punjab housing schemes is in our required documents checklist.
Apni Chhat Apna Ghar vs Apni Chhat Mehfooz Chhat
Both run on the same portal, so people often mix them up.
| Point | Apni Chhat Apna Ghar (ACAG) | Apni Chhat Mehfooz Chhat |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Build a new house on your own empty plot | Repair or expand a house you already own |
| Maximum loan | Rs1,500,000 | Rs500,000 or Rs1,000,000 |
| Interest | Interest-free | Interest-free |
| Monthly kist | About Rs14,000 (as reported) | About Rs4,700 / Rs9,300 |
| Property rule | Sole owner of a plot up to 5 marla (urban) / 10 marla (rural) | Owner of a built house up to 5 marla (urban) / 10 marla (rural) |
| PMT 60 or less | Not ticked on the current portal table | Required |
| Age | 21-60 | 21-60 |
| Portal button | "Apni Chhat Apna Ghar" | "Apni Chhat Mehfooz Chhat - Addition of New Floor/Room" |
| Launched | 2024 | July 2026 |
For a wider comparison with the federal scheme, read Apna Ghar vs Apni Chhat Apna Ghar and our PM Apna Ghar programme guide.
Mehfooz Ghar scheme last date and current status
As of 15 October 2026, the "Apni Chhat Mehfooz Chhat" apply button is live on the portal. The Punjab government has not announced any last date for applications. Posts that give a closing date have no official source.
The government has also not published how many people have applied for, or received, Mehfooz Chhat loans. The portal counter covers the whole ACAG programme. On 28 October 2026 it showed 223,547 loans worth PKR 291,440.5 million, and 127,376 houses completed.
Watch the portal and our Apna Ghar last date page for changes.
Helpline and offices
- Toll-free helpline: 0800-09100 (shared with Apni Chhat Apna Ghar).
- Official website: acag.punjab.gov.pk (made by PITB for the Punjab government).
No official WhatsApp number or SMS code has been announced for this scheme. More numbers are on our Apna Ghar helpline page.
Common mistakes that lead to rejection
- Using a fake website. Several private sites use "mehfooz chhat" or "mehfooz ghar" in their address. They are not government sites. Apply only at acag.punjab.gov.pk.
- Clicking the wrong button. The first apply button is the new-house loan. Mehfooz Chhat has its own button.
- House not in your name. The portal asks you to own the house. If it is still in a parent's name, sort out the transfer first or call the helpline.
- House too big. Over 5 marla in a city or 10 marla in a village is outside the limit.
- PMT above 60 or no NSER record. Check your PMT score before you apply.
- Wrong mobile number. Use a SIM in your own name; the verification code and updates come by SMS.
- Paying an agent. Applying is free and the government pays the processing fee. Never pay anyone to "get your loan approved".
- Unclear photos. Blurry CNIC or house photos slow down verification.
The scheme exists because a roof gave way during repair work. Use an experienced mason, avoid overloading a roof with workers or material, and ask a local engineer if cracks are serious.
Latest news (dated)
- 30 June 2026: A tuition centre roof in Kahna, Lahore collapses and 14 children die. The CM orders a review of building safety.
- 8 July 2026: CM Maryam Nawaz approves "Apna Ghar, Mehfooz Ghar" with two new categories: Rs500,000 for unsafe roofs and Rs1 million for an extra floor. She says ACAG eligibility rules should not change.
- 17 July 2026: The "Apni Chhat, Mehfooz Chhat" portal goes live. The kist is cut from the Rs14,000 first discussed to about Rs4,700 and Rs9,300. The government will pay processing charges, and families sharing a house can get Rs1 million.
- 20 July 2026: The Punjab portal (punjab.gov.pk) publishes the official notice confirming 9-year repayment and the helpline.
- 3 August 2026: ARY News reports the full eligibility list, including the 21-60 age limit and NADRA/PLRA verification.
- 25 August 2026: The Express Tribune reports that some ACAG borrowers in Vehari had waited months for their first instalment. This was about the parent scheme, not Mehfooz Chhat, but it shows payments can take time.
- 15 October 2026: The apply button is still live, with no last date announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The CM approved it as "Apna Ghar, Mehfooz Ghar" on 8 July 2026, and the portal launched it as "Apni Chhat, Mehfooz Chhat" on 17 July 2026. It is one scheme under the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar programme.
Up to Rs500,000 to repair or strengthen a weak roof or add a room, and up to Rs1,000,000 to build an additional storey. Both loans are interest-free.
About Rs4,700 a month for Rs500,000 and about Rs9,300 a month for Rs1,000,000, over 9 years. Repayment starts after a 3-month grace period.
Go to acag.punjab.gov.pk, click "Apni Chhat Mehfooz Chhat - Apply for Addition of New Floor/Room", choose Category 01 or 02, register with your CNIC and mobile number, verify the SMS code, log in, fill in house details, upload documents and submit.
No last date has been announced as of 15 October 2026. The apply button on acag.punjab.gov.pk is still live. Ignore closing dates posted on unofficial sites.
A Punjab resident aged 21 to 60 with a valid CNIC, who owns a built house of up to 5 marla in a city or 10 marla in a village, has a PMT score of 60 or less in NSER/PSER, has no criminal record and is not a loan defaulter.
Yes. The official eligibility table on acag.punjab.gov.pk requires NSER/PSER registration with a PMT score of 60 or less for Apni Chhat Mehfooz Chhat.
Your CNIC, proof that you own the house (such as the Fard), and photographs of the existing house. You also need a mobile number for the SMS code and your father's or husband's CNIC number for the form.
Yes. Help desks at Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner offices, and at PHATA offices, accept applications by hand.
No. Applying is free, and the Punjab government pays the loan processing fee and other charges. Do not pay agents.
The toll-free helpline is 0800-09100, the same number used for Apni Chhat Apna Ghar.
In two parts. For roof repair or a room, it comes in two instalments. For an extra storey, the first tranche is paid at approval and the second at lintel level.
Disclaimer: Apna Ghar Guide is an independent information site, not a government website. Always apply through official portals. Information verified from acag.punjab.gov.pk (home, loan category and eligibility pages, read 15 October 2026), punjab.gov.pk (20 July 2026), Dawn and Business Recorder (18 July 2026), Business Recorder, Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Today (8-9 July 2026), ARY News (3 August 2026), Pakistan Observer (23 July 2026) and The Express Tribune (25 August 2026).