Punjab’s Apni Chhat Apna Ghar housing programme has earned international recognition after Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz received the 2026 UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award in Muscat, Oman. The prestigious honour recognises initiatives that promote affordable housing, sustainable development and improved living conditions.
The award was presented at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre during the global observance of World Habitat Day, where Maryam Nawaz attended as a special guest.
The UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour is one of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme’s prominent awards, recognising governments, organisations, cities and projects that make significant contributions to housing and sustainable urban development. Punjab’s initiative was among five international recipients honoured in 2026, alongside projects from Myanmar, Brazil, Tunisia and London, England.
Launched in 2024, the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar programme aims to help low-income families in Punjab build affordable homes. During its first phase, more than 134,000 houses were reportedly being constructed through loans exceeding Rs196 billion. The second phase provided more than Rs62 billion in loans for approximately 65,000 houses.
Maryam Nawaz dedicated the international award to homeless and low-income families across Punjab, describing the recognition as an honour for people striving to own a home. She said the achievement had brought recognition to both Punjab and Pakistan on the global stage.
Pakistan has previously received the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour, with the award reportedly granted in 2007 to the deputy chairman of the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority.
