MoU signed on Ehsas Apna Ghar Scheme

Bank of Khyber will provide loans of Rs1.5 million for the construction of houses

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government, as another important step towards public welfare in the province, has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the implementation of 'Ehsas Apna Ghar Scheme'.

The MoU was signed between the Housing Department and the Bank of Khyber (BoK) in a ceremony held here at the Chief Minister's House, Peshawar. The ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur as the chief guest. Provincial cabinet members Dr. Amjad Ali and Muzammil Aslam, along with officials from relevant departments and the BoK, were also present.

Under the Ehsaas Apna Ghar scheme, low-income individuals will be eligible for interest-free loans of up to Rs1.5 million for the construction of a new house on their owned land or for the expansion and renovation of existing ones. The scheme, with a budget of Rs4 billion, offers a seven-year easy repayment schedule with a maximum monthly instalment of Rs18,000. It will operate on a revolving funds system and continue for the next seven years.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister emphasized that providing quality housing to the people is a top priority of the provincial government. He termed the Ehsaas Apna Ghar scheme as a pivotal initiative aimed at delivering interest-free loans to low-income families to ensure access to quality housing.

He added that the scheme would not only improve living standards but also contribute to the social and economic uplift of the province's underprivileged communities. The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure complete transparency in the loan disbursement process and emphasized that the loans must only be awarded to deserving individuals.

The Chief Minister also highlighted other welfare programs being launched under the Ehsaas initiative, including Ehsaas Naujawan, Ehsaas Hunar, and Ehsaas Rozgar, which aim to uplift youth, enhance skills, and provide employment opportunities across the province.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister, while taking notice of shortage of medicines in Kurram district due to road blockage has directed the quarters concerned to ensure supply of essential medicines to Kurram through the provincial government's helicopter.

Further, the Chief Minister has allocated his helicopter for supply of medicines to Kurram until road access is completely restored.

On Wednesday, two consignments of essential medicines, including life-saving drugs worth Rs6.3 million, were airlifted to Kurram via K-P government's helicopter.

In compliance with the Chief Minister's directives, the Advisor for Health and Health Secretary are personally monitoring the distribution of medicines in Kurram.

The Chief Minister emphasized that the availability of essential medicines must be ensured at all times in the district. He further instructed that air deliveries should remain operational until ground connectivity is fully re-established.

The provincial government is committed to utilizing all available resources to ensure the uninterrupted supply of medicines to the area, he added.