The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has clarified that bank employees and other financial institutions cannot obtain subsidised housing finance under the Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar Programme.
The restriction applies to employees of commercial banks, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and Microfinance Banks (MFBs). The SBP issued the clarification through a circular letter dated September 14, 2026.
The SBP has instructed banks, DFIs and MFBs to inform their branches and relevant staff about the clarification and ensure that the eligibility rules are followed while processing applications.
What does the Apna Ghar Programme offer?
The scheme is officially called the ‘Wazir-e-Azam Apna Ghar Program – Ghar Ho Tu Apna.’ It was previously known as ‘Mera Ghar Mera Ashiana’ before being renamed earlier this year.
It is designed to make housing finance more affordable for eligible Pakistanis who do not already own a residential property.
Financing can be used to purchase a house or flat, construct a house on an already owned plot, or purchase a plot and construct a house on it.
The maximum financing available is Rs10 million. Eligible properties include houses measuring up to 10 marla or 2,720 square feet, while flats can measure up to 1,500 square feet.
Borrowers can receive financing for up to 20 years. The customer rate is fixed at 5 per cent for the first 10 years, during which the government provides the markup subsidy. After this period, the applicable pricing changes according to the programme’s financing terms.
The programme also carries no processing fee or early repayment penalty, making it easier for eligible borrowers to obtain or repay housing finance.
Who can apply?
Applicants must be Pakistani citizens and must not already own a housing unit in their name. Both resident and eligible non-resident Pakistanis can access the scheme subject to applicable requirements.
However, SBP’s current programme information says contractual bank employees below officer grade who are not eligible for staff housing finance can still qualify under the scheme.
Therefore, applicants working for financial institutions should check their specific employment category and eligibility with their institution before applying.
Housing scheme applications increase
Applications have increased by 52% since June. The total amount of approved financing has also crossed Rs7.2 billion.
The increase in applications and loans shows that more people are seeking financial support to buy or build their own homes.
The government now plans to focus on removing difficulties that may prevent applicants from receiving housing loans.