Bahawalpur: Land allotment letters and certificates were distributed among successful beneficiaries of the first phase of the Punjab government’s “Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar” programme in Bahawalpur, marking a major step towards providing agricultural land to landless farmers under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s initiative.
The beneficiaries were selected through a transparent computerized balloting process. Land allotment letters were distributed by MNA Sami-ul-Hassan Gillani, MPA Khalid Mahmood Jajja, former Senator Chaudhry Saud Majeed, and former MPA Afzal Gill. Commissioner Bahawalpur Division Irfan Ali Kathia, RPO Ghazi Muhammad Salahuddin, Deputy Commissioner Syed Hassan Raza, senior government officials, farmers, and citizens attended the ceremony.
Commissioner Irfan Ali Kathia said the Punjab Government had allocated 31, 000 agricultural plots to eligible families across the province, including 10, 500 deserving families in Cholistan, where land certificates will be distributed in phases. He said a total of 83, 000 acres of agricultural land is being allotted under the programme.
He said land in Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, and Rahim Yar Khan would be allotted strictly on merit through a transparent process, with no role for political influence or recommendations. Beneficiaries will retain possession of the land for 20 years, while physical possession will be handed over within a week. Each allottee will also receive a development grant of Rs. 250, 000 after taking possession of the land.
Kathia said preparations for the second phase of the programme were underway, adding that eligible applicants who could not be accommodated in the first phase would be given priority.
Deputy Commissioner Syed Hassan Raza said the merit-based selection reflected the Punjab Government’s commitment to supporting landless farmers and strengthening the agricultural sector. He expressed confidence that the initiative would boost agricultural production, improve rural livelihoods, and contribute to economic growth.
The beneficiaries thanked Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and the Punjab Government for launching the programme and expressed hope that more farmer-focused initiatives would be introduced in the future.