Difference between Mera Ghar Mera Ashiana and Apni Chat Apna Ghar Scheme

Housing is one of the biggest needs of every family in Pakistan. Many families still live in rented houses or in shared homes because they cannot afford to buy or build their own place. To solve this problem, the Government of Pakistan and the Government of Punjab have started different housing schemes. Check Mera Ghar Mera Ashiana.

Two important programs are:

1. Mera Ghar Mera Ashiana Loan Scheme (a national level program supervised by the State Bank of Pakistan)
2. Apni Chat Apna Ghar Scheme (a Punjab-only program run by the provincial government)

Both schemes are designed to support low and middle-income families, but they are different in area, process, and type of support. In this article, we will explain in detail the difference between Mera Ghar Mera Ashiana Loan Scheme and Apni Chat Apna Ghar Scheme in very simple words.

Those applicants who got loan from Apni Chat Apna Ghar Scheme in Punjab are not eligible for Federal Mera Ghar Mera Ashiana Scheme 2025.

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1. Coverage Area of the Schemes

The first and most important difference is the coverage.

• Mera Ghar Mera Ashiana Loan Scheme is for the whole of Pakistan. Whether you live in Punjab, Sindh, KPK, or Balochistan, you can apply if you meet the conditions. It is a national program supported by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
• Apni Chat Apna Ghar Scheme is only for Punjab residents. The Punjab government runs this scheme to support poor and low-income families inside the province. People from other provinces cannot apply.

This shows that while Mera Ghar Mera Ashiana is a country-wide effort, Apni Chat Apna Ghar is limited to Punjab.

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2. Purpose of Each Scheme

Both schemes aim to solve the housing problem, but they do it in different ways.

• Mera Ghar Mera Ashiana Loan Scheme provides housing loans through banks. These loans help people buy, build, or construct small houses and flats. The government gives a markup subsidy so the monthly payments are much lower than normal market loans.
• Apni Chat Apna Ghar Scheme is focused on building ready-to-live housing units for poor families in Punjab. Instead of giving loans only, the scheme develops housing colonies or units and then provides them to eligible families at low or subsidized prices.

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3. Type of Support

Another big difference is the type of help provided.

• Mera Ghar Mera Ashiana offers financial support in the form of loans. You borrow from the bank, then repay in small installments over a long time.
• Apni Chat Apna Ghar provides direct houses or housing units. In some projects, families may still have to pay, but the cost is reduced with government help. In short, one scheme gives you money to build, while the other gives you a house to live in.

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4. House Size Limit

Both schemes target small houses because they are meant for low and middle-income families.

• In Mera Ghar Mera Ashiana, the maximum house size is 5 Marla or a flat up to 1360 square feet.
• In Apni Chat Apna Ghar, the focus is usually on 3 Marla and 5 Marla houses depending on the project location in Punjab.

This shows that both schemes avoid luxury properties and focus on affordable homes.

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5. Eligibility Rules

• Mera Ghar Mera Ashiana Loan Scheme
  • Any Pakistani citizen with CNIC can apply.
  • Must be a first-time home buyer (no house should be in your name).
  • You must show income proof so the bank knows you can pay back the loan.
• Apni Chat Apna Ghar Scheme
  • Only for residents of Punjab.
  • Families with low or limited monthly income are preferred.
  • Those who already own a house cannot apply.

So the first scheme is national, while the second is provincial.

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6. How to Apply

The application process is also different.

• Mera Ghar Mera Ashiana
  You apply through banks. All commercial banks, Islamic banks, microfinance banks, and HBFCL are part of this program. You visit the bank, fill the loan form, submit CNIC and income documents, and apply for the loan.
• Apni Chat Apna Ghar
  You apply through the Punjab government’s housing department or official portals. Sometimes the Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency (PHATA) manages the process. Forms are usually available online or through district offices.

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7. Payment and Loan Terms

• Mera Ghar Mera Ashiana
  • Loan sizes: Up to 2 million PKR for Tier 1 and up to 3.5 million PKR for Tier 2.
  • Markup (interest): Only 5% or 8% fixed for customers, much lower than market rates.
  • Repayment period: Up to 20 years with no penalty for early payment.
  • Down payment: Only 10% of house value.
• Apni Chat Apna Ghar
  • Most houses are provided at low cost with subsidies.
  • Families may have to pay in easy installments, but the exact terms depend on the project.
  • The Punjab government covers part of the cost so the burden is less on poor families.

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8. Risk and Support to Banks

• In Mera Ghar Mera Ashiana, the government also protects banks by covering 10% of the loan portfolio on a first-loss basis. This encourages banks to give more loans.
• In Apni Chat Apna Ghar, the government itself builds or manages housing projects, so banks are not the main players.

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9. Benefits of Each Scheme

Benefits of Mera Ghar Mera Ashiana

• Available in all provinces of Pakistan.
• Very low markup rates compared to normal loans.
• Long repayment time (up to 20 years).
• No processing fees and no early payment charges.

Benefits of Apni Chat Apna Ghar

• Focused on low-income families in Punjab.
• Ready-to-live houses provided with subsidies.
• No need to deal with banks for loan approval.
• Direct government involvement ensures housing colonies are developed.

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Final Comparison

To make it easy to remember:

• Mera Ghar Mera Ashiana Loan Scheme = A loan-based scheme for all Pakistanis, run through banks under SBP.
• Apni Chat Apna Ghar Scheme = A house-based scheme for Punjab residents, run by the Punjab government.

Both programs are important, but their focus is different. One gives you the money to build or buy, and the other gives you the house to live in.

The housing problem in Pakistan cannot be solved by one program alone. That is why both the federal and provincial governments are working on different ideas.

The Mera Ghar Mera Ashiana Loan Scheme helps citizens across Pakistan with affordable bank loans for their first home. The Apni Chat Apna Ghar Scheme helps families in Punjab by giving them small, subsidized housing units.

If you live anywhere in Pakistan and want a loan, the first scheme is for you. If you live in Punjab and belong to a low-income family, the second scheme is your chance to get a roof over your head.

Both schemes are part of the same goal: to give every family in Pakistan a safe and affordable home.