Summary Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz launched computerised balloting to allot cultivable state land to 30,000 landless families under the Apna Khet Apna Rozgar scheme.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said the ‘Apna Khet Apna Rozgar’ initiative has been transformed from a proposal into reality within a short period, as the provincial government launched computerized balloting to allot cultivable state-owned agricultural land to 30,000 landless and deserving families.
Speaking at a ceremony in Lahore on Monday, the chief minister conducted the computerized draw under the programme, which aims to distribute a total of 121,000 acres of cultivable government land on a 20-year symbolic lease at Rs100 per acre annually.
Under the scheme, beneficiaries will also receive Rs50,000 per acre in financial assistance, along with technical support to help cultivate the land.
During the ceremony, Maryam Nawaz telephoned one of the successful applicants, Abdul Sattar from Faisalabad, congratulating him and telling him that he would now have control over the allotted land for the next 20 years.
She added that each successful family receiving four acres would also be provided Rs200,000 to prepare the land for cultivation, enabling them to become financially independent.
According to the chief minister, the programme was launched on April 22, attracting around 60,000 applications, while computerized balloting has now been completed for approximately 29,000 plots.
She said 11,000 women also applied for the scheme and that all applicants were given the opportunity for personal hearings and appeals before the final draw. Allotment letters will be issued within a week, while possession of the land is expected to be handed over by July 31.
Maryam Nawaz said the programme aims to provide economic empowerment to landless and underprivileged families, increase agricultural production and restore the dignity of farmers.
She stressed that only families without agricultural land were considered eligible and that all allotments were made strictly on merit without political influence or recommendations.
The chief minister also announced that any additional cultivable government land identified across Punjab would be distributed in phases among more deserving families so that a larger number of landless farmers could benefit from the programme.
She reiterated that the agricultural land is being provided for cultivation on a 20-year lease, adding that the computerized balloting process was conducted with complete transparency and merit.
