Punjab Government Announces Plan to Allot 3,200 Housing Plots to Journalists

March 11, 2026 – Pakistan –

The government of Pakistan’s Punjab province has announced plans to allot 3,200 residential plots to journalists, a move officials say aims to address long-standing housing concerns among media professionals and improve welfare within the journalism community.

The announcement was made by Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari during a meeting of the Punjab Journalists Housing Foundation, where officials reviewed the process for scrutinizing applications submitted for the Journalist Housing Society Phase-II project. The initiative is designed to help journalists achieve home ownership through a government-supported housing scheme.

According to Bokhari, the Scrutiny Committee’s report will be submitted to the Chief Minister of Punjab, who will oversee the final allocation of the plots. The provincial government says the program represents a practical step toward addressing journalists’ welfare and fulfilling a long-standing demand from the media community.

The meeting brought together several officials and representatives from the media sector, including Secretary Information Syed Tahir Raza Hamdani, Director General Public Relations Farid Ahmad, and Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari. Senior journalists Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami and Salman Ghani also participated in discussions on the implementation of the scheme.

A committee consisting of Farid Ahmad, Arshad Ansari, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami, and Salman Ghani was tasked with examining applications from journalists and verifying eligibility. The committee is expected to complete its review and submit recommendations within 15 days, after which the allotment process will move forward.

Officials also discussed the financial structure of the housing scheme. Under the proposed payment plan, journalists would pay monthly instalments of 15,000 Pakistani rupees over seven years, with the remaining amount payable as a lump sum in the final stage of the payment schedule.

Bokhari proposed that only one plot should be allotted per family in order to ensure that the largest possible number of journalists benefit from the initiative. She also suggested that when both spouses are journalists and apply separately, the property could be registered in the wife’s name as a measure to encourage greater recognition and empowerment of women in the media sector.

Participants also discussed potential legal and administrative questions, including how property ownership would be handled if couples who receive joint allocations later separate or divorce. Officials suggested establishing a clear policy to address such cases and ensure fairness in the distribution process.

The scheme is part of broader provincial efforts to improve welfare provisions for journalists, with authorities saying the housing initiative aims to provide long-term stability for media professionals working across Punjab.

Reference –

https://www.nation.com.pk/11-Mar-2026/journalists-dream-owning-home-nears-reality-azma-bokhari

https://www.brecorder.com/news/40411046/punjab-govt-to-allot-3200-plots-to-journalists-azma