Islamabad: The government has approved the inclusion of lending Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) in the Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar Programme, expanding access to subsidised housing finance for underserved and unbanked segments of the population, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) said on Tuesday.
Under the decision, eligible NBFCs will be allowed to participate as Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) in the government’s affordable housing scheme, broadening the channels through which citizens can obtain home financing.
The SECP said it had proposed the inclusion after identifying the potential of NBFCs to expand housing finance and strengthen financial inclusion in Pakistan.
According to the regulator, non-banking housing finance companies and investment finance companies participating in the programme will be able to provide housing loans of up to Rs10 million, while microfinance companies will be permitted to extend loans of up to Rs5 million.
The regulator said the move would create additional financing avenues for citizens, particularly those with limited access to conventional banking services. It added that NBFCs’ wider outreach and flexible financing models are expected to help more families purchase their first homes.
The Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar Programme, launched in April, aims to support the construction of 500,000 homes over five years through a Rs3.2 trillion housing finance initiative. The scheme offers eligible first-time homebuyers financing for up to 20 years at a subsidised mark-up rate of 5% for the first 10 years.
To facilitate implementation, the SECP said it has introduced a regulatory framework allowing eligible NBFCs to provide housing finance through their own resources or in partnership with other NBFCs, commercial banks and development finance institutions.
The regulator has also issued detailed guidelines covering eligibility criteria, operational procedures, prudential requirements and monitoring mechanisms to ensure responsible and sustainable lending under the programme.
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