Key Takeaways
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed banks to increase lending to farmers, SMEs, and the housing sector.
- The Access to Finance Plan 2026-2028 aims to expand access to finance for priority sectors.
- So far, 147,504 applications have been received under the Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar Program.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed banks and financial institutions to increase lending to farmers, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the housing sector, as part of the government’s Access to Finance Plan 2026-2028.
During a review meeting, the PM highlighted the importance of providing affordable housing to low-income and middle-class segments, emphasizing that provincial Chief Secretaries should conduct a comprehensive survey of properties for which banks can provide loans under the Apna Ghar Program.
The Access to Finance Plan 2026-2028 is a government initiative aimed at boosting economic growth, exports, and employment by expanding access to finance for various priority sectors.
So far, 147,504 applications have been received under the scheme, with 53,127 applications approved, amounting to Rs313.42 billion in total value, and Rs45.43 billion in loans provided to 8,739 applicants.
The PM also directed authorities to ensure farmers have unhindered and easy access to financial resources, with a focus on the agricultural sector, which he described as the backbone of the country’s economy.
To streamline the Apna Ghar Program, a system is being developed to identify plots across the country that meet mortgage conditions, with a pilot launch planned from Islamabad.
Regarding the agricultural sector, the volume of loans provided stood at Rs1.268 trillion in August 2026, with a target of Rs2 trillion by June 2028 under the Access to Finance Plan 2026-2028.
Through the Zarkhez-e app, 35,838 applications have been received for easy loans, with Rs7.35 billion approved and Rs1.96 billion disbursed.
For the SME sector, the volume of loans provided stood at Rs1.067 trillion, with a target of Rs2 trillion by June 2028 under the Access to Finance Plan 2026-2028.
The government will encourage those banks that fully play their role in providing loans.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chairman of the meeting
