Lahore: Punjab has earned international recognition as the ‘Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar’ housing project received the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award.

According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Punjab, Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif accepted the award at a ceremony in Muscat’s Convention and Exhibition Centre, having been invited as a State Guest. The event, part of the World Habitat Day celebrations, saw a warm reception for the Chief Minister from UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach and other attendees. The hall applauded as she dedicated the award to those who have built homes under the program.

This year, the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour was awarded to five countries, with recipients including Myanmar’s Htoo Weng, Brazil’s Thiago Baurmann Gubert, Tunisia’s Abdelmalek Ghanem, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan. The award, a high distinction within the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, recognizes excellence in promoting housing, urban development, and disaster recovery. Over the past 37 years, it has been presented to approximately 200 entities globally.

In a significant achievement for Pakistan, the ‘Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar’ project becomes the first provincial housing initiative to receive this award, marking a historic moment since the nation’s last recognition in 2007. Selected from more than 150 global projects, it underscores Punjab’s commitment to sustainable urban development and affordable housing.