Minister inspects houses built under ‘Apni Chhat Apna Ghar’ plan

LAHORE:Punjab Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Bilal Yasin, reviewed the houses being constructed under the 'Apni Chhat Apna Ghar' programme.

Accompanied by PHATA DG Sikandar Zeeshan, he visited the completed houses in the Kahna area. People who built houses through the programme requested the housing minister to convey their message of gratitude to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

Bilal Yasin also met with applicants at the Akhuwat office. Applicants and beneficiaries described the provision of interest-free loans as an act of kindness. The minister stated that interest-free loans of up to Rs1.5 million will be given annually to 100,000 families for house construction.

This year, in addition to loans, free residential plots will also be distributed among deserving individuals. So far, loans have been provided to 34,000 families, and no complaints of corruption have been reported at any level. PHATA and Akhuwat officials were also present on the occasion with Minister Bilal Yasin.

‘CM wants to revive culture as vital instrument for national identity’

Secretary Information and Culture Tahir Raza Hamdani has said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz wants to revive culture as a vital instrument for national identity and youth engagement. The secretary was speaking at a briefing session held for the under-training officers of the 52nd Common at the Civil Services Academy. The session offered a comprehensive overview of the Department of Information and Culture, Punjab, and its affiliated institutions, highlighting the department’s strategic efforts to promote language, literature, arts, and the welfare of artists across the province.

The secretary informed the delegation that under the visionary guidance of Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari, the department is undertaking concrete initiatives to preserve Punjab’s cultural heritage, artistic enrichment, and empowerment of writers, poets, and performers. He emphasised that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz prioritises cultural revival as a vital instrument for national identity and youth engagement.

Additional Secretary, Information & Culture, Muhammad Nawaz Gondal, Executive Director Alhamra, Tauqeer Haider Kazmi, and other senior officials were also present during the session. Section Officer Nauman Majeed delivered an in-depth presentation on the structure, achievements, service delivery models, and leadership of all institutions working under the Information and Culture Department. The visiting officers were keenly interested in the briefing, raising questions regarding government-led press engagements, talent discovery in remote areas, and initiatives for emerging poets and young artists. In response, the department outlined its flagship Talent Hunt programmes, which are being conducted across Punjab to uplift and nurture artistic talent, especially among youth.

It was noted that these efforts aim to both preserve cultural heritage and project a positive national image, with artists playing a pivotal role in societal development. Executive Director Alhamra Kazmi shared that Alhamra has long been the nucleus of literary and cultural life in Pakistan, regularly hosting national and international festivals and serving as a testament to Pakistan’s creative excellence. At the conclusion, Qadir Nawaz, on behalf of the Civil Services Academy, presented Secretary Hamdani with a souvenir, who in turn presented a bouquet to the head of the delegation.