Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has formally launched a digital portal for a major agricultural and economic uplift initiative titled “Apni Zameen… Apni Mehnat, Apni Fasal… Apna Rozgar” scheme.
Under the “Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar Scheme,” agricultural land worth around Rs160 billion will be distributed among landless rural residents to boost farming productivity and economic growth across Punjab.
According to a briefing by Senior Member Board of Revenue Nabeel Javed, land will be identified based on water availability and soil fertility. A total of 13,812 agricultural plots across various districts will benefit 88,780 families, while in Cholistan, 16,685 plots will benefit 101,111 families.
Each selected applicant will receive agricultural land valued between Rs2.5 million and Rs4 million for cultivation. In addition, a one-time development grant ranging from Rs50,000 to Rs250,000 per acre will be provided to support farming activities.
The scheme will offer land to unemployed rural farmers on a 10-year lease. Authorities have identified 43,938 areas in districts and 83,425 areas in Cholistan, taking irrigation and fertility factors into account.
Applications can be submitted online from May 2 to May 18. Applicants will be able to file appeals with the Deputy Commissioner from June 1 to June 8, while the final list of successful candidates will be released on June 19. Distribution of land is set to begin from June 30.
In cases where multiple applicants apply for a single plot, allocation will be carried out through balloting. Officials said the land must strictly be used for agricultural purposes, and permanent construction will not be allowed.
Each plot will be monitored by an agriculture officer and an internee, while a committee comprising Assistant Commissioners and Agriculture Department officials will conduct biannual inspections. Farmers will be free to cultivate crops of their choice under the scheme.
