PM Apna Ghar: documents cut from 25 to 5 on 14 October 2026; 75,198 loans worth Rs 448 billion approved. Apni Chhat Apna Ghar: 223,547 interest-free loans worth PKR 291,440.5 million disbursed per the ACAG portal counter, as of 28 October 2026. Both portals remain open. New: our full Apni Chhat Apna Ghar scheme 2026 guide covers eligibility, instalments and online apply in detail.
October 2026: the current eligibility table on acag.punjab.gov.pk no longer lists a PMT score for the main Apni Chhat Apna Ghar loan. The "PMT 60 or less" rule now appears only for Apni Chhat Mehfooz Chhat. Some older official pages still mention it for ACAG, so confirm on the portal or call 0800-09100 before you apply.
The 30-second answer: If you live in Punjab and own a small plot of land, choose Apni Chhat Apna Ghar (ACAG), it's interest-free. If you live anywhere in Pakistan and have a stable salary or business income to buy or build a home up to 10 marla, choose the federal PM Apna Ghar Programme, it offers up to Rs 10 million at 5% markup. Both are open right now. Some Punjab families may qualify for both.
If the names sound nearly identical, it's because they are, and the confusion can send families to the wrong portal. Apna Ghar literally means "your own home" in Urdu, and the federal and Punjab governments have each used the phrase for completely different schemes. One is a federal middle-income mortgage programme launched on 30 April 2026 by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The other is a Punjab-only zero-interest loan scheme launched in September 2024 by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. Its portal counter shows 223,547 interest-free loans worth PKR 291,440.5 million as of 28 October 2026.
This guide cuts through the confusion with a head-to-head breakdown. By the end, you'll know exactly which one applies to your situation, whether you should apply to both, and what each scheme actually delivers in your hands.
Quick Comparison: At a Glance
| Feature | PM Apna Ghar Programme (Federal) | Apni Chhat Apna Ghar (Punjab) |
|---|---|---|
| Launched By | PM Shehbaz Sharif | CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif |
| Launch Date | 30 April 2026 | 5 September 2024 (still open) |
| Coverage Area | All Pakistan + GB + AJK | Punjab only |
| Maximum Loan | Rs 10 million | Rs 1.5 million (15 lakh) |
| Loan Slabs | Any amount up to Rs 10M (no fixed slabs in SBP circulars) | Single slab up to Rs 1.5M |
| Markup Rate | 5% fixed (10 yrs), then KIBOR+3% | 0%, fully interest-free |
| Repayment Period | Up to 20 years | About 9 years (portal About page still shows an older 7 year figure) |
| Min Equity from Applicant | 10% of property value | None (you already own the land) |
| Income Limit | No cap; bank checks repayment capacity (debt burden up to 65% of net income) | No income cap in the current eligibility table |
| PMT Score Required | Not required | Not ticked for the main ACAG loan in the current eligibility table (ticked only for Mehfooz Chhat) |
| Property Size Cap | 10 marla home / 1,500 sq ft flat | 5 marla urban / 10 marla rural |
| Land Requirement | Not needed (loan can buy plot+construct) | Must already own the plot |
| Application Portal | apnaghar.gov.pk | acag.punjab.gov.pk |
| Approval Timeline | 15 working days for credit approval (SBP) | Not published |
| Total Programme Budget | Rs 700 billion target (reported 14 Oct 2026) | PKR 291,440.5 million disbursed (as of 28 October 2026) |
| Target Beneficiaries | 125,000 units (reported 14 Oct 2026) | 500,000 homes in 5 years (new target) |
| Disbursement Method | To seller (purchase) or in tranches (construction) | Two instalments, the second after construction moves ahead |
| Best For | Salaried/professional middle-income | Low-income asset-poor families |
What Each Scheme Is, Plain Language
PM Apna Ghar Programme, The Federal Mortgage
The Prime Minister's Apna Ghar Programme is a markup subsidy and risk-sharing scheme notified by the State Bank of Pakistan. In simple terms, the federal government guarantees part of the bank's risk so banks can offer 20-year loans at a fixed 5% markup for the first 10 years, well below commercial home loan rates.
This is bank financing, not a government grant. You apply through a participating bank (for example Allied Bank, HBL, Meezan Bank, National Bank, HBFC or Bank Alfalah), they verify your income and the property, and they disburse the loan to you. The federal government subsidises the markup difference for the first 10 years.
The programme is meant for people who earn enough to qualify for a mortgage but can't afford commercial rates, typical middle-income households: junior officers, school teachers, small business owners, IT professionals, doctors in early career.
Apni Chhat Apna Ghar, The Punjab Soft Loan
ACAG is a different beast. It is a direct provincial soft loan: the Punjab Government lends to qualifying families at zero interest and pays the operational cost and sales tax itself.
This is not a bank product, it is a Punjab Government social welfare programme implemented through PHATA (Punjab Housing & Town Planning Agency). You apply on the provincial portal, partner microfinance institutions (Akhuwat, NRSP, RCDP) verify your application and visit you, and the loan is paid in two instalments as you build.
The programme is meant for families who cannot qualify for any commercial mortgage, daily wage earners, widows, small farmers, low-grade government employees. The instalment is roughly Rs 14,000 a month over about 9 years, starting 3 months after the loan, and at the end the family owns a home instead of a rent receipt.
Eligibility, Compared Side by Side
PM Apna Ghar Programme
You qualify for the federal scheme if:
- You hold a valid CNIC and are a resident Pakistani citizen (NRPs with a NICOP or POC are also eligible, per SBP)
- You are aged 21 to 60 (self-employed up to 65 at loan maturity, per Allied Bank; each bank sets its own limits)
- You have stable, verifiable income, salary, business, or professional earnings
- You can show your income to the bank (SBP has also told banks to use informal income estimation models)
- You have no record of loan default with any bank
- You are a first-time homeowner (no residential property in your name in Pakistan)
- You can put down 10% equity (the bank finances 90%)
- You do not work for a bank, DFI or microfinance bank (SBP, September 2026)
There is no income ceiling for the federal scheme, even higher-middle-income earners can apply, as long as the property is within the size cap and they meet other criteria.
Apni Chhat Apna Ghar (ACAG)
You qualify for the Punjab scheme if:
- You are a permanent resident of Punjab (per CNIC)
- You are the head of family per NADRA records
- You are not a loan defaulter and have no criminal record
- You are 21 to 60 years old when you apply
- You are the sole owner and possessor of a plot, up to 5 marla in an urban area or up to 10 marla in a rural area
The current eligibility table on acag.punjab.gov.pk shows no income ceiling and no PMT score for the main ACAG loan; the "PMT 60 or less" rule is ticked only for Mehfooz Chhat. Some older official pages still mention PMT for ACAG, so confirm on the portal or call 0800-09100.
Cost & Affordability, Real Math
This is where the two schemes look very different in your monthly budget.
PM Apna Ghar (Federal), Real Monthly Installments
| Loan Amount | Monthly Installment (Yrs 1,10 at 5%) | Total Repaid Over 20 Years (if 5% applied throughout) |
|---|---|---|
| Rs 2,500,000 | Rs 16,499 | ~Rs 3.96 million |
| Rs 5,000,000 | Rs 32,998 | ~Rs 7.92 million |
| Rs 7,500,000 | Rs 49,497 | ~Rs 11.88 million |
| Rs 10,000,000 | Rs 65,996 | ~Rs 15.84 million |
Note: Your installment for years 11,20 will be reset based on prevailing 1-year KIBOR + 3% at that time, which could be lower or higher than the initial 5%.
Apni Chhat Apna Ghar (Punjab), Real Monthly Installments
| Loan Amount | Monthly Installment | Total Repaid |
|---|---|---|
| Rs 1,500,000 (max) | About Rs 14,000 (depending on tenure) | Rs 1.5 million flat (no interest) |
Most ACAG borrowers pay around Rs 14,000 a month over about 9 years, as PHATA explained in December 2024. The About page on the portal still shows an older 7 year figure, so confirm your schedule with your lender.
Critical difference: With ACAG, you repay only the principal. The Rs 1.5 million you borrowed is exactly what you pay back over time. With the federal scheme, you repay principal plus markup, on a Rs 2.5 million loan, that's roughly Rs 1.46 million extra over 20 years if the rate stayed at 5%.
What Each Loan Can Be Used For
| Use Case | PM Apna Ghar (Federal) | Apni Chhat Apna Ghar (Punjab) |
|---|---|---|
| Buy a constructed house | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Buy a flat/apartment | ✅ Yes (up to 1,500 sq ft) | ❌ No |
| Buy a plot + construction | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Build a house on land you own | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Add a floor to existing house | Not listed, ask your bank | ✅ Yes, through Apni Chhat Mehfooz Chhat |
| Renovation only | Not listed, ask your bank | ❌ No |
| Plot purchase only (no construction) | ❌ No | ❌ No |
The portal has a separate option, Apni Chhat Mehfooz Chhat, for adding a new floor or room to a house you own: Rs 500,000 or Rs 1,000,000 over 9 years, and this option does need a PMT score of 60 or less. For the federal scheme, ask your bank whether additions are covered.
Documentation, What Each Scheme Demands
Documents Required for PM Apna Ghar (Federal)
- CNIC (and spouse's CNIC if married)
- Proof of income (salary or business)
- Property title documents (SBP simplified these in October 2026)
- On 14 October 2026 the list was cut from 25 documents to 5 sets. The official list of the five has not been published, so ask your bank for its current list.
Documents Required for Apni Chhat Apna Ghar (Punjab)
- CNIC, plus your father's or husband's CNIC number
- Mobile SIM registered in your own name (for the OTP)
- Property document of your plot (Fard / Registry / Allotment)
- Recent photos
- No official printed document list is published on the portal. In 2026 lenders also asked approved applicants for two guarantee cheques and a pledge on the plot. Check the portal or call 0800-09100.
The federal scheme requires income proof and equity. The Punjab scheme checks plot ownership through partner microfinance institutions. They genuinely test different things.
Approval Speed, Who's Faster
SBP has told banks to complete credit approval for PM Apna Ghar applications within 15 working days.
ACAG does not publish a processing time. Applications are verified by partner microfinance institutions (Akhuwat, NRSP, RCDP), who visit the applicant. In August 2026 some applicants approved earlier in the year were still waiting for their first instalment. Check your status on the portal or call 0800-09100.
| Stage | PM Apna Ghar (Federal) | ACAG (Punjab) |
|---|---|---|
| Form submission | Same day | Same day |
| Document verification | At the bank, within the 15 working days | By microfinance partner, time not published |
| Field/property check | Valuation (in-house up to Rs 5M, PBA valuer above) | Visit by microfinance partner, time not published |
| Eligibility cross-check | Done at bank | Not published |
| Final approval | Within 15 working days | Not published |
| First disbursement | Set by the bank | First of two instalments, timing not published |
Track Record, Who's Actually Delivering
This is where ACAG has a real story to tell. As of 28 October 2026, the ACAG portal reports:
- 223,547 loans disbursed
- 127,376 homes completed
- 64,463 homes under construction
- PKR 291,440.5 million disbursed in interest-free loans
- The UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour, received in October 2026
- New target: 500,000 homes in five years
The federal PM Apna Ghar Programme launched on 30 April 2026. By 14 October 2026, 75,198 loans worth Rs 448 billion had been approved and about Rs 76 billion disbursed to about 14,000 borrowers. The reported target is Rs 700 billion for 125,000 units.
What this tells you: ACAG has a longer track record. The federal scheme is newer. Delays still happen in both: in August 2026 some approved ACAG applicants were still waiting for their first instalment.
Real-World Decision Scenarios
To make this practical, here are five common situations and the right answer for each:
Scenario 1: "I'm a school teacher in Multan earning Rs 55,000/month. I own a 4-marla plot."
→ Apply for ACAG first. You live in Punjab and own a qualifying plot, and a zero-interest loan of up to Rs 1.5M can help you build a basic house at about Rs 14,000/month. The federal scheme is overkill for your need.
Scenario 2: "I'm an IT professional in Karachi earning Rs 200,000/month. I want to buy a 5-marla house in Bahria Town."
→ Apply for PM Apna Ghar Programme. You're outside Punjab, ACAG is for Punjab residents only, and you need a real mortgage to buy a constructed house. A Rs 5M loan at 5% markup (Rs 32,998/month) is your route.
Scenario 3: "I'm a daily-wage worker in Bahawalpur with no land at all."
→ Apply for Apni Zameen Apna Ghar (the AZAG sister scheme) first. Get a free 3-marla plot through the Punjab balloting. Once you have the plot, you can apply for ACAG to build the house. The federal scheme requires equity you don't have.
Scenario 4: "I'm a small business owner in Rawalpindi earning Rs 80,000/month with a 5-marla plot."
→ You may qualify for both. With a 5-marla plot in Punjab you meet the ACAG plot rule, and the current eligibility table shows no PMT or income limit for the main loan. ACAG is interest-free but capped at Rs 1.5M. If you need more, a Rs 2.5M federal loan costs about Rs 16,499/month at 5%.
Scenario 5: "I live in Lahore with my brother's family in a joint household. We need to add another floor."
→ Look at Apni Chhat Mehfooz Chhat. This option on the ACAG portal is for adding a new floor or room to a house you own (Rs 500,000 or Rs 1,000,000; PMT 60 or less is required for this option). Ask your bank whether the federal scheme covers additions.
Can You Apply for Both?
Possibly, but check first.
If you qualify for both, you can register on both portals. However:
- Neither scheme publishes a rule on holding both loans, so ask the bank and PHATA (0800-09100) before you sign.
- Banks such as Meezan say the federal scheme is for first-time home owners, so once an ACAG house is built you may no longer count as one.
The federal scheme has a 15 working day credit approval target for banks; ACAG does not publish a processing time. If cost matters most, ACAG is interest-free.
What Each Scheme Won't Tell You Upfront
After studying official documentation, news reports, and applicant complaints, here are the realities each scheme's marketing doesn't emphasize:
PM Apna Ghar, Hidden Considerations
- The 5% markup is fixed only for 10 years. After that, your installment can rise sharply if KIBOR is high.
- Banks have their own internal credit-scoring layered on top of programme eligibility, even if you qualify on paper, your bank may decline.
- For loans above Rs 5 million, a PBA-listed valuer values the property; smaller cases are valued by the bank in-house.
- The 10% equity is non-negotiable. Many applicants don't realize this when they start the application.
ACAG, Hidden Considerations
- The money can be used only for construction, and a "red entry" is placed on your land record.
- The second instalment comes only after construction moves ahead, and progress is monitored.
- The Rs 14,000 installment is often described as starting "after a 3-month grace period", meaning your first payment is in month 4, not month 1.
- You must be the sole owner of the plot. If your land record has errors, get them fixed before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
PM Apna Ghar is a federal mortgage scheme for all Pakistanis offering up to Rs 10 million at 5% markup over 20 years. Apni Chhat Apna Ghar is a Punjab-only soft loan offering up to Rs 1.5 million at zero interest for families in Punjab who own a small plot. They serve different income groups and have different eligibility rules.
Possibly, if you qualify for both. Neither scheme publishes a rule on holding both loans, so ask your bank and PHATA (0800-09100) before you sign anything.
Only Apni Chhat Apna Ghar (ACAG) is fully interest-free. The PM Apna Ghar Programme has a 5% fixed markup for the first 10 years, then transitions to KIBOR + 3% for the remaining tenure.
PM Apna Ghar Programme has a much higher cap (Rs 10 million) compared to ACAG's Rs 1.5 million. The federal scheme lends any amount up to Rs 10M; Rs 2.5M, 5M, 7.5M and 10M are only common examples.
You can only apply for the PM Apna Ghar Programme (federal). ACAG is restricted to Punjab residents whose CNIC shows a Punjab address. NRPs with a NICOP or POC can also apply for the federal scheme, per SBP.
The PM Apna Ghar Programme has a 15 working day credit approval target for banks. ACAG does not publish a processing time.
Neither scheme directly. The PM Apna Ghar Programme can finance plot purchase + construction together, but you need 10% equity. If you have no land and very low income, apply for Apni Zameen Apna Ghar (AZAG) first to get a free 3-marla plot, then apply for ACAG to build on it.
ACAG has fewer document requirements for the income side because its current eligibility table has no income test. The federal scheme demands stronger income proof, equity proof, and credit history, typical of any commercial mortgage.
For PM Apna Ghar, the participating bank pursues normal recovery, the property can be foreclosed under standard banking law. For ACAG, a "red entry" is placed on your land record and lenders have asked for guarantee cheques. Ask your lender about the exact recovery steps.
For low-income applicants in Punjab, ACAG is more reachable, it is designed to approve people the banks would normally reject. For middle-income applicants with verifiable salary/business income, PM Apna Ghar is more reachable because eligibility is income-based, not poverty-based.
No. They are designed to coexist and serve different income segments. ACAG continues to operate independently of the federal scheme. In October 2026 the Punjab cabinet approved Rs 60 billion more for ACAG.
Apni Chhat Apna Ghar (ACAG) provides a Rs 1.5M interest-free construction loan to families who already own a plot. Apni Zameen Apna Ghar (AZAG) provides a free 3-marla residential plot to landless families. Many beneficiaries first get a plot through AZAG, then apply for ACAG to build their house.
Final Recommendation
If you live in Punjab and own a small plot, ACAG is the obvious choice. Zero interest, a long track record, and a roughly Rs 14,000 monthly instalment are hard to beat.
If you live anywhere in Pakistan, have a stable middle-class income, and want to actually buy a 5,10 marla home or flat, PM Apna Ghar Programme is your route. The 5% markup is well below commercial bank rates for the first 10 years, and banks have a 15 working day credit approval target.
If you qualify for both, compare them first, and ask the bank and PHATA (0800-09100) whether you can hold both before you sign.
Read our companion guides:
- PM Apna Ghar Programme, Complete Guide, Loan Slabs & Eligibility
- Apna Ghar Online Registration 2026, Form, Last Date & Login
- Apna Ghar Loan Calculator, Monthly Installments for Each Slab
- Apni Chhat Apna Ghar Status Check by CNIC
Federal portal: apnaghar.gov.pk Punjab portal: acag.punjab.gov.pk Toll-free helpline: 0800-09100
Disclaimer: This article is informational only. Always verify current eligibility and terms on the official portals before applying. The PM Apna Ghar Programme is administered by the State Bank of Pakistan and the Pakistan Housing Authority Foundation. Apni Chhat Apna Ghar is administered by PHATA under the Government of Punjab. Information checked on 28 October 2026 against acag.punjab.gov.pk, SBP SH&SFD circulars of 2026, participating bank pages (Allied Bank, HBL, Meezan Bank) and major news reports.
