What Is Apni Chhat, Mehfooz Chhat?
Apni Chhat, Mehfooz Chhat ("Your Roof, Safe Roof") is a specialized sub-component of the Punjab government's flagship Apni Chhat Apna Ghar (ACAG) program. It provides interest-free (0% markup) financial support to low-income families so they can repair, reinforce, or expand their existing homes, rather than build a new one from scratch.
Punjab's Housing and Town Planning Agency (PHATA) is involved in rolling the program out — news coverage describes help desks for applicants set up at PHATA's regional and deputy director offices — though PAKIT could not independently confirm from public reporting that PHATA is the sole administering body of the ACAG portal itself.
Loan Categories
The scheme offers two tiers of financing, confirmed by Pakistani news coverage of the program:
- Roof Repair & Structural Reinforcement: financing of up to PKR 500,000, intended to repair deteriorating roofs and restore structural integrity.
- Home Expansion & Additional Construction: financing of up to PKR 1,000,000, intended for building an additional room or another floor on an existing home.
A note on repayment terms: PAKIT could not confirm an exact repayment period in years for either tier from the sources available — the official ACAG portal blocks automated access, and the one outlet that reported specific figures (ProPakistani, Aug 2026) cited approximate monthly installments of roughly Rs. 4,700/month for the Rs. 500,000 tier and roughly Rs. 9,300/month for the Rs. 1,000,000 tier, implying a repayment period closer to nine years rather than a shorter three-to-six-year term. Since that figure comes from a single source and the government's own portal couldn't be checked directly, treat exact repayment tenure as unconfirmed and verify the current terms on the official ACAG portal or helpline before applying.
Eligibility Criteria
Based on reporting that cites the program's official criteria, applicants must meet all of the following:
- Residency: Permanent resident of Punjab with a valid Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC)
- Property size: Ownership of a residential plot or home measuring up to 5 Marla in urban areas, or up to 10 Marla in rural areas
- Age: Between 21 and 60 years old at the time of application
- Financial record: A clean record, with no defaults registered with commercial banks or financial institutions
- Legal record: No conviction for a heinous criminal offence
- Verification consent: Applicants must consent to background verification through NADRA and the Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA)
How to Apply
Eligible applicants can apply online through the official ACAG portal:
- Register an account on the official ACAG portal
- Select the required loan category under the "Mehfooz Chhat" option
- Upload the required documents: CNIC, proof of land/property ownership (Fard), and photographs of the existing home
Reporting also notes the provincial government bears the loan processing fees and administrative charges, on top of the 0% markup — though as with the repayment tenure, PAKIT recommends confirming current fee and documentation requirements directly with PHATA or on the portal before applying, since program terms can change.
Contact & Official Links
- Official Program Portal: acag.punjab.gov.pk
- Direct Loan Category Portal: acag.punjab.gov.pk/Layouts/LoanCategory.aspx
- Toll-Free Helpline: 0800-09100
A Note on Financial Decisions
PAKIT is an independent guide, not a bank, a lender, or a financial advisor, and this article isn't financial advice. Before taking on any loan — even an interest-free one — confirm the current repayment schedule, fees, and your own obligations directly with PHATA or through the official ACAG portal and helpline above.
Conclusion
Apni Chhat, Mehfooz Chhat is a real, interest-free financing option for Punjab homeowners who need to repair a roof or expand a home rather than build new. The eligibility rules, application steps, and contact details above are well-corroborated by independent reporting; the exact repayment tenure is the one detail PAKIT couldn't pin down with confidence, so check that specifically before you commit.