Apni Chhat Apna Ghar (also searched as "Apna Ghar Apni Chat") is the Punjab government's interest-free loan of up to Rs1.5 million (15 lakh) for building a house on a small plot you already own. You repay about Rs14,000 a month over roughly 9 years. You apply free of charge at acag.punjab.gov.pk with your CNIC and a mobile number in your own name. As of 28 October 2026, applications are open and no last date has been announced.
The Apni Chhat Apna Ghar scheme (ACAG) is the biggest housing loan programme Punjab has run. It started in 2024 under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, and by 28 October 2026 the official portal counter showed more than 223,000 loans paid out. This guide explains the whole scheme in simple steps: the loan amount, the monthly instalment (kist), who can apply, how to register online, which documents to keep ready, what happens after you apply, and how to stay safe from fake websites.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Official name | Apni Chhat Apna Ghar Program (ACAG), Government of Punjab |
| Run by | Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency (PHATA), under the Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Department |
| Loan (qarza) | Up to Rs1,500,000, for building a new house |
| Interest (sood) | 0%. You repay only what you borrow |
| Monthly kist | About Rs14,000 (reported), starting about 3 months after the loan |
| Repayment period | About 9 years (reported); the portal's older programme page says 7 years |
| Paid in | Two instalments, released as the house is built |
| Plot rule | Sole owner of up to 5 marla (city) or 10 marla (village) |
| Age | 21 to 60 years on the day you apply |
| Apply | Online at acag.punjab.gov.pk (free) |
| Helpline | 0800-09100 (toll-free) |
| Last date | None announced (checked 28 October 2026) |
What Is the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar Scheme?
Apni Chhat Apna Ghar means "my own roof, my own home". It is a special programme of the Chief Minister of Punjab for low-income families who live in rented rooms or informal housing but own a small piece of land. The government lends them money to build a house on that land, with no interest.
The official programme page describes three ways the scheme works: houses on state land with developers, low-cost houses inside private housing schemes, and interest-free loans for building on your own plot. The loan part is the one almost everyone searches for, and it is what this guide covers. When people say "Apni Chat Apna Ghar online apply", they mean this loan.
This is not a bank mortgage. It is a Punjab welfare programme. The government pays the running costs, and microfinance partners such as Akhuwat, NRSP and RCDP check applicants and handle the loans. Since July 2025 the Bank of Punjab has also been a partner for the housing finance side.
If you are confused between this Punjab scheme and the federal PM Apna Ghar mortgage, read our Apna Ghar vs Apni Chhat Apna Ghar comparison. For federal loans by name, see the Shahbaz Sharif loan scheme guide.
Loan Amount, Instalments and Tenure
The maximum loan is Rs1.5 million. Because there is no interest, the maths is simple: you return the same amount you borrowed, in equal monthly instalments.
- Monthly kist: about Rs14,000, as stated by the PHATA Director General in December 2024 and reported again by The Nation.
- Tenure (muddat): about 9 years. Rs1.5 million over 108 months comes to about Rs13,900, which matches the Rs14,000 figure. The portal's older "About Programme" page still says 7 years, so your own loan papers decide the final schedule.
- Grace period: repayment starts about 3 months after you receive the loan.
- Early payment rebate: the portal says that if you pay off the whole remaining loan early, you get 20% off the outstanding principal in years 1 to 3, and 10% in years 4 to 6.
| Loan | Monthly kist (9 years) | Total repaid |
|---|---|---|
| Rs1,500,000 | about Rs13,900 (reported as Rs14,000) | Rs1,500,000 |
| Rs1,000,000 | about Rs9,260 (our estimate) | Rs1,000,000 |
| Rs750,000 | about Rs6,950 (our estimate) | Rs750,000 |
Smaller rows are our own simple division (loan divided by 108 months), not official figures. Try your own numbers in the Apna Ghar loan calculator.
The main loan is only for building a new house on an empty plot. If your house needs a stronger roof, an extra room or a second floor, apply under Apni Chhat Mehfooz Chhat instead: up to Rs500,000 for repairs or a room, or Rs1,000,000 for an extra storey, both over 9 years. Full details are in our Mehfooz Ghar guide.
Who Can Apply: Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility table on acag.punjab.gov.pk lists these rules for the main Apni Chhat Apna Ghar loan:
- You are a resident of Punjab with a valid CNIC.
- You are the sole owner and possessor of a plot of up to 5 marla in an urban area or up to 10 marla in a rural area. Shared or family land in someone else's name does not count.
- You are 21 to 60 years old on the day you submit the application.
- You have no criminal record.
- You are not a loan defaulter with any bank or financial institution.
An older Punjab government page also says the applicant should be the head of the family in NADRA records.
The current portal table marks the "PMT score of 60 or less" rule only for Mehfooz Chhat, not for the main ACAG loan. An older punjab.gov.pk page still lists it for ACAG. The registration form also checks your PMT record when you enter your CNIC. If you are unsure, call 0800-09100 or read our PMT score check guide before you apply.
No plot? Then you cannot take this loan yet. Look at Apni Zameen Apna Ghar, which gives free 3 marla plots to homeless families. Plot winners can then apply for the ACAG loan to build.
Apni Chhat Apna Ghar Online Apply: Step by Step
The online registration is free and works on a mobile phone. You do not need an agent. Keep your CNIC, your father's or husband's CNIC number, and a SIM registered in your own name next to you.
- Type acag.punjab.gov.pk into your browser. Do not open it from a Facebook or WhatsApp link.
- On the home page, press "Apni Chhat Apna Ghar: Apply for Construction of New House". The second button is for Mehfooz Chhat, not for a new house.
- Fill the Citizen Registration Form: full name, CNIC, father's or husband's name and CNIC, gender, email (optional), mobile network and mobile number, and your division, district, tehsil and city.
- Press "Get Verification Code". Enter the code that comes by SMS, then make a password and press Register.
- Check the confirmation box carefully. The portal warns that your name, father's name, CNIC and mobile number cannot be changed after registration.
- Log in with your CNIC and password. Fill the application with your plot details and family information.
- Upload the documents it asks for (see the list below), check every entry, and submit.
- Write down your details and log in from time to time to follow your file.
For screenshots of each screen, the login page and how to raise a complaint, see our acag.punjab.gov.pk online apply guide. If you are stuck at login, the login portal guide covers common fixes.
For the Mehfooz Chhat loan, the Punjab government named Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner and PHATA offices as places to apply without internet. Call 0800-09100 to ask whether your nearest office also takes new-house applications, or ask a trusted family member to help you apply on the official portal.
Apna Ghar Apni Chat Required Documents
The portal does not publish one printed list, but official pages and news reports point to these papers. Photograph each one clearly in good light before you start.
- CNIC of the applicant, valid and not expired.
- Father's or husband's CNIC number (needed on the registration form).
- Proof that the plot is yours: Fard, registry or transfer letter, in your name only.
- Photos of the plot and of the applicant, if the form asks for them.
- A mobile number registered in your own name for the SMS code and alerts.
At the loan stage, the lender may ask for more. Applicants in Vehari told The Express Tribune in August 2026 that they gave two guarantee cheques and pledged their plot before approval. A printable list for all schemes is in our documents checklist.
What Happens After You Apply: Verification and Loan Tranches
There is no ballot for the ACAG loan. Each file is checked on its own. Based on official statements and news reports, the usual path looks like this:
- Data checks. Your CNIC, family and land details are checked against government records.
- Field visit. Staff from the microfinance partner (for example Akhuwat or NRSP) call you and visit your plot to confirm it exists and is yours.
- Approval. The partner recommends your case and the Housing Department approves it.
- Loan papers. You sign the loan agreement. A "red entry" is placed on your land in revenue records, so the plot cannot be sold until the loan is repaid. A bank account may be opened in your name.
- First instalment. The first part of the loan is released so construction can start. A column in The Nation (4 October 2026) describes two instalments of Rs750,000 each.
- Second instalment. When the house has moved ahead, you request it through the portal button "Request for Release of 2nd Installment". Construction progress is monitored before release.
The money can only be used for building the house. Some families wait a long time between steps. The Express Tribune reported on 25 August 2026 that approved applicants in Vehari had waited months for their first instalment, with partners saying funds would follow once the government transferred them.
Apni Chhat Apna Ghar Status Check
To check your application status, log in at acag.punjab.gov.pk with your CNIC and the password you made at registration. Your dashboard shows where your file is. The portal also sends SMS alerts to your registered mobile number. If you forgot your password, use "Forgot Password" on the login page.
Our full Apni Chhat Apna Ghar status check by CNIC guide explains each step. To see whether your district has new lists or a new phase, read the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar list page.
Progress So Far: Portal Counter (28 October 2026)
The ACAG home page shows a live counter. When we opened it on 28 October 2026, it read:
| Counter | Figure (28 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| Loans disbursed | 223,547 |
| Amount disbursed | PKR 291,440.5 million (about Rs291 billion) |
| Houses completed | 127,376 |
| Houses under construction | 64,463 |
A status update posted on CM Maryam Nawaz's official X account for 22 October 2026 gave 224,320 approved loans and said the second tranche had reached 170,495 borrowers. The scheme received the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour at World Habitat Day in Muscat on 5 October 2026, and the Punjab government has set a target of 500,000 houses in five years.
The portal also has a "District Quota" page, because loans are shared out between districts. The table shown there is for an early batch, so do not treat it as the current quota for your district.
Is There a Last Date?
No. As of 28 October 2026 the portal shows no closing date and the "Apply for Construction of New House" button is live. Registration is rolling. Posts that quote an "Apni Chat Apna Ghar last date to apply" have no official source. Funding still moves in phases, so applying early is sensible. Our Apna Ghar last date page tracks every scheme.
Common Reasons Applications Are Rejected or Stuck
- The plot is not in your name alone. Land owned by a parent, brother or jointly with others fails the "sole owner" rule. Get the transfer done first.
- The plot is too big. More than 5 marla in a city or 10 marla in a village is outside the scheme.
- Age outside 21 to 60 on the day you submit.
- Loan default with any bank or microfinance company, or a criminal record.
- Wrong button. Applying for a new house when you already have one (that is Mehfooz Chhat), or the other way round. The portal has a "Change of Loan Category" request for existing applicants.
- Mobile SIM in someone else's name. The form needs a number registered to the applicant, or the SMS code and alerts will not reach you.
- Typing mistakes. Name, father's name, CNIC and mobile cannot be changed after registration.
- Missing the field visit call. Keep your phone on and answer unknown numbers after you apply.
Apna Ghar Apni Chat Helpline Number
- Toll-free helpline: 0800-09100 (printed on the ACAG home page; also covers Mehfooz Chhat).
- PHATA contact numbers: 042-99213419 and 042-99213428.
- Email: info@phata.punjab.gov.pk
There is no separate helpline for Multan, Muzaffargarh, Layyah or other districts. Everyone uses the same toll-free number. No official WhatsApp number has been published. More numbers, including bank and complaint routes, are on our Apna Ghar helpline page.
Scam Warning: Fake Apni Chat Apna Ghar Websites
Many private websites use names like "apni chat apna ghar" with a .com.pk or .pk address. They are not the government. Some collect your CNIC, and some agents ask for a "processing fee" to get you approved.
The only official site is acag.punjab.gov.pk. Applying is free. Never share your SMS code or password, and never pay anyone to "approve" your loan. Report fraud calls to the NCCIA cybercrime helpline 1799.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a Punjab government programme that gives interest-free loans of up to Rs1.5 million to low-income families so they can build a house on a small plot they already own. It is run by PHATA and started in 2024.
Up to Rs1,500,000 (15 lakh) for building a new house. For repairs, an extra room or an extra floor, the Mehfooz Chhat category offers up to Rs500,000 or Rs1,000,000.
About Rs14,000 a month for the full Rs1.5 million loan, over roughly 9 years, starting about 3 months after you receive the money. There is no interest.
Open acag.punjab.gov.pk, press "Apply for Construction of New House", fill the Citizen Registration Form, verify your mobile with the SMS code, set a password, then log in and complete the application with your plot details and documents.
Your CNIC, your father's or husband's CNIC number, proof that the plot is in your name (Fard, registry or transfer letter), photos if asked, and a mobile number registered in your own name.
The current portal eligibility table lists PMT 60 or less only for Mehfooz Chhat, but an older official page lists it for ACAG too. Confirm with the helpline 0800-09100 before you apply.
No. You must be the sole owner of a plot of up to 5 marla in a city or 10 marla in a village. Landless families can look at Apni Zameen Apna Ghar for a free 3 marla plot, then apply for the loan.
No last date has been announced. As of 28 October 2026 the portal accepts applications on a rolling basis.
Log in at acag.punjab.gov.pk with your CNIC and password to see your file on the dashboard. SMS alerts also go to your registered mobile number.
No. Each application is verified on its own, including a visit to your plot. Ballots are used for the Apni Zameen Apna Ghar free plot scheme, not for this loan.
The toll-free helpline is 0800-09100. PHATA also lists 042-99213419 and 042-99213428, and the email info@phata.punjab.gov.pk. No official WhatsApp number exists.
No. Apni Chhat Apna Ghar is a Punjab-only interest-free loan for building on your own plot. PM Apna Ghar is a federal bank mortgage at a subsidised markup, applied for at apnaghar.gov.pk.
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 page, eligibility criteria, about programme, registration form and contact pages, read 28 October 2026), punjab.gov.pk, The Express Tribune (25 August 2026), The Nation (4 October 2026), Aaj News (16 December 2024) and ARY News (20 July 2025, 24 July 2026).