Lahore, Baku | ReNews Pakistan
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the Punjab Pavilion during the World Urban Forum held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, where the Punjab government’s affordable urban housing project, ‘Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar’, received significant international recognition.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif made a detailed visit to the Punjab Pavilion set up at the Urban Expo and inspected various stalls. On the occasion, DG PHATA Zeeshan Sikandar briefed the Chief Minister on the ‘Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar’ programme and shared details regarding the project’s progress, dashboard, construction phases and beneficiaries.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed pleasure over seeing the ‘Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar’ programme secure a prominent position in World Innovation. She also took a live virtual tour of the programme through AI gadgets, watched a construction documentary story and reviewed the project dashboard.
At the Punjab Pavilion, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif briefed foreign participants, global delegations and media representatives on the success of Punjab’s affordable urban housing project. She said the ‘Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar’ programme was very close to her heart, as it was providing loans to the people of Punjab without discrimination to help them build their own homes.
According to the Chief Minister, 600 to 700 houses are being constructed daily under the project, while more than 100,000 homes have been completed in just one year. She said the programme is a practical step towards providing dignified housing to low income and middle class citizens.
A documentary film on the ‘Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar’ programme was also screened at the Punjab Pavilion, highlighting the happiness and satisfaction of citizens who benefited from the project. Foreign guests and international media appreciated the documentary and paid tribute to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for her public welfare initiatives.
International media, global delegations and representatives from various countries participated actively in the opening ceremony. Participants praised Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision, the Punjab government’s housing initiatives and the rapid progress of the project.
At the World Urban Forum, the Punjab Pavilion remained a major centre of attention for delegates from around the world, while international media described the record pace of the ‘Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar’ programme as a role model for developing countries.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has made building fitness certificates mandatory for private schools across the province, under which the strength, stability and safety standards of private educational institutions will be formally assessed.
According to sources, a building fitness certificate has been proposed as a mandatory requirement for school registration and renewal of registration. The certificate will be issued by the Buildings Department. In Lahore, around 3,500 private schools fall within the registration framework, and authorities have recommended adopting a structured mechanism for inspecting their buildings.
According to the official letter, a proposal has been made to appoint a third party consultant for the inspection of private schools. It has also been recommended that the responsibility be assigned to an independent engineering firm so that school buildings can be examined in an impartial and technical manner. A uniform survey of private schools across Punjab has also been proposed.
The letter revealed that many private schools are operating in residential buildings, while several structures have not been approved for institutional purposes. In addition, the building plans and structural records of several school buildings are not available, raising safety concerns for students, teachers and staff.
To ensure building safety, a comprehensive structural assessment has been proposed, along with destructive and non destructive testing of buildings. Officials said the purpose of the technical inspection is to ensure the safety of students studying in private schools and identify unsafe buildings.
The letter issued by the Punjab Communication and Works Department has sought an immediate policy decision from the School Education Department. The letter was sent in light of a communication from the CEO DEA Lahore.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has described the “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” programme as a bold initiative aimed at bringing real change to public lives, saying that progress is never achieved through fear or hesitation, but through courage, vision and practical action.
Addressing a forum on urban development and sustainable future in Baku, the Punjab Chief Minister said every leader must understand that progress is never timid, and that courage is what creates real change. She said the success and impact of any government are not measured by speeches, but by the changed lives of the people.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” programme is a practical expression of this people-centred vision, designed to provide dignified housing facilities to low income and middle class citizens so that ordinary families can move away from the burden of rent and uncertain living conditions and become homeowners.
The Punjab Chief Minister said they were taking a shared message from Baku that safe, resilient and sustainable cities are not privileges, but an equal and fundamental right of all humanity. According to her, the provision of housing, civic facilities and a secure environment are areas of public welfare that directly affect citizens’ daily lives.