The provincial government of Punjab has launched a large-scale land distribution scheme, offering agricultural lots to landless rural residents in the province for productive cultivation.
The programme, titled “Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar,” is backed by Rs160 billion in land value and targets unemployed rural farmers who currently own no agricultural land for farming.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has officially launched the online portal for the scheme, directing departments to identify farmland based on water availability and measured soil fertility.
Scheme coverage and land on offer
In all districts of the province, 13,812 agricultural lots will be made available, benefiting up to 88,780 families who have been identified as eligible for the programme.
In the Cholistan region alone, 16,685 separate lots have been earmarked, which are expected to benefit approximately 101,111 additional families under the same scheme.
Each successful applicant will receive agricultural land valued between Rs2.5 million and Rs4 million, allocated strictly for cultivation and seasonal crop production purposes.
A one-time settlement grant ranging from Rs50,000 to Rs250,000 per acre will also be provided to help new farming families establish themselves on the distributed land.
In total, 124,374 acres of farmland will be distributed, comprising 43,938 acres across general Punjab districts and 83,425 acres designated specifically within the Cholistan region.
Terms and farming conditions
All allotted land will be leased for a fixed period of ten years, and applicants must use it solely for growing crops, with no permanent structures permitted on plots.
Farmers will have full freedom to choose which crops to grow on their lots, without any restriction placed on the type or variety of agricultural produce cultivated.
An assigned agricultural officer and a field intern will be attached to each lot to provide technical guidance and support throughout the farming and crop-production cycle.
A dedicated committee comprising the local Assistant Commissioner and Agriculture Department officials will review cultivation progress on every allotted plot at least twice annually.
How to apply
- 2–18 May → Apply online via Punjab government’s official website.
- 1–8 June → If rejected, file appeal with local Deputy Commissioner.
- 19 June → Authorities publish final approved applicants list.
- 30 June → Land distribution begins; draw held if multiple applicants qualify for one lot.
