Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has officially launched the “Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar” scheme portal, marking a major step toward supporting landless rural families through agricultural development. The initiative is being described as a historic project, with land worth Rs160 billion allocated for distribution among deserving rural residents across Punjab. The government says the aim is to promote self-reliance, increase agricultural productivity, and create sustainable employment opportunities in rural areas.
Under the scheme, a total of 13,812 agricultural lots will be distributed across different districts of Punjab, benefiting around 88,780 families. In the Cholistan region alone, 16,685 lots will be allocated, supporting more than 101,111 families. Officials confirmed that land identification has already been completed based on water availability and soil fertility to ensure productive farming outcomes.
Each successful applicant will receive agricultural land valued between Rs2.5 million and Rs4 million for cultivation purposes. Additionally, a one-time financial grant ranging from Rs50,000 to Rs250,000 per acre will be provided to assist farmers with settlement and initial development. In total, approximately 124,374 acres of agricultural land will be distributed under this scheme.
Senior Member Board of Revenue Nabeel Javaid briefed the Chief Minister on the progress and implementation framework of the project. He explained that unemployed farmers in rural areas will be offered land on a 10-year lease basis, with strict conditions ensuring that the land is used only for agricultural purposes. Construction of permanent structures will not be allowed under the policy.
Authorities also confirmed that farmers will have full freedom to choose crops according to their preference, while agricultural officers and interns will be assigned to each land parcel for technical guidance. A monitoring committee consisting of the Assistant Commissioner and Agriculture Department officials will review cultivation progress twice a year to ensure effective implementation.
The application process will begin on May 2 and continue until May 18 through the official Punjab government website. Applicants will be allowed to submit appeals between June 1 and June 8, while the final list of selected beneficiaries will be issued on June 19. Land distribution is scheduled to start from June 30, with a transparent draw system in case of multiple applicants for the same land.
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