Overview
- The federal government approved the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan’s recommendation on Saturday to allow eligible non‑bank financial companies to act as Participating Financial Institutions in the Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar Programme.
- Under SECP rules, non‑bank housing finance and investment firms may offer loans up to Rs10 million while microfinance companies may lend up to Rs5 million under the scheme.
- Borrowers will keep access to the programme’s subsidised terms, including financing for up to 20 years and a fixed 5% markup for the first 10 years.
- The SECP issued a regulatory framework that lets NBFCs lend from their own funds or partner with commercial banks and development finance institutions and that sets eligibility, prudential safeguards and monitoring requirements.
- Officials say the move could broaden outreach to underserved and unbanked households and speed housing delivery, but ultimate impact will depend on NBFC capacity, coordination with banks and DFIs, and robust oversight against credit and construction risks.