ISLAMABAD: Approved housing finance under the Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar Programme has reached Rs351.3 billion, while the scheme’s subsidised fixed interest rate of 5% for the first 10 years has been retained.
The development was announced during the fourth meeting of the Access to Finance Steering Committee, chaired by Federal Minister for Finance Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb in Islamabad.
The meeting reviewed progress and future targets for financing in the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME), agriculture, housing and electric vehicle sectors.
60,349 Housing Loans Approved
According to the briefing, a total of 60,349 housing loans have been approved under the Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar Programme.
Of these, Rs 51.13 billion has so far been disbursed through 9,717 loans.
The government has also maintained the facility of a 5% fixed interest rate for the first 10 years, providing borrowers with a predictable financing cost during the initial period of their housing loans.
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SME and Agricultural Financing
The committee was informed that SME financing had reached Rs1.067 trillion by August 2026, benefiting 323,987 borrowers.
The government has set a target of increasing SME financing to Rs2 trillion by June 2028, while aiming to raise the number of borrowers to 775,000.
To improve financial awareness among SMEs, 560 training programmes are planned across the country. Around 100 programmes have already been completed, while five help-desk sessions were held last month.
Agricultural financing also reached Rs1.268 trillion by August 2026, benefiting 3.392 million farmers. The government aims to increase agricultural financing to Rs2 trillion by June 2028.
Under the Zarkhez-e-Asaan Agricultural Loan Scheme, 58,919 farmers have registered, with 16,964 loans approved. Of the total approved financing of Rs7.349 billion, Rs1.956 billion has already been disbursed to farmers.
Electric Vehicle Financing
The meeting also reviewed financing under the PAVE programme, aimed at promoting electric vehicles in Pakistan.
A total of 17,118 applications have been approved, involving financing worth Rs258.1 million. So far, 4,228 loans have been disbursed and 1,860 electric bikes have been delivered to citizens.
Finance Minister Calls for Faster Loan Disbursement
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb directed relevant authorities to ensure the timely disbursement of approved loans and transform financial approvals into actual economic activity.
He also instructed subcommittees to accelerate practical measures aimed at improving access to finance.
The finance minister said easier access to financing for underserved segments of society and SMEs was essential for achieving sustainable, private-sector-led economic growth in the country.
