PUNJAB has embarked on one of its most consequential agrarian reforms in decades, transferring long-term cultivation rights over government-owned farmland to 30,000 landless families under the Apna Khet Apna Rozgar programme. More than a simple land handout, the scheme aims to shift thousands of rural households from dependence on daily wage labour toward asset-based livelihoods while bringing idle state land under productive cultivation.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz launched the distribution through a computerized digital balloting process, under which successful applicants were granted leasehold rights to cultivable government land for 20 years at a symbolic annual lease of Rs100 per acre. The scheme covers nearly 121,000 acres, making it one of the largest government-backed land access programmes in Punjab in recent years.
The initiative addresses a longstanding structural problem: despite agriculture’s central role in Punjab’s economy, many families survive as tenant farmers or agricultural labourers without productive assets. By granting secure cultivation rights, the government hopes to provide economically vulnerable households with a stable income through farming rather than seasonal or informal work.
Unlike conventional subsidy schemes offering temporary relief, the programme combines land security with production support. Every beneficiary family will receive Rs50,000 per acre for land preparation and initial cultivation, while Agriculture Extension teams will provide technical guidance, crop advisory services and modern agronomic support to improve yields and promote climate-resilient practices.
According to Senior Member of Board of Revenue, Nabeel Javed, the programme was launched on April 22 and completed computerized balloting within three months. Nearly 60,000 applications were received, with around 29,000 allotments finalized. Almost 11,000 applicants were women, reflecting their growing participation in Punjab’s agricultural sector.
Officials describe the selection process as highly transparent. Every applicant was given a personal hearing, unsuccessful candidates were allowed to appeal and district-level committees were formed to supervise implementation, verify possession and issue lease certificates. Successful applicants are expected to receive allotment letters promptly, with physical possession of the land by July 31.
Speaking at the launch, Maryam Nawaz described the initiative as a transition from welfare to genuine economic empowerment. “The person who cultivates the land should be the one who benefits from its produce,” she said, adding that the government would also assist beneficiaries with cultivation costs. The programme also marks a broader shift in Punjab’s agricultural policy from input-based subsidies toward improving land access. Economists have long argued that secure tenure encourages farmers to invest in soil improvement, irrigation and higher-value crops because they enjoy long-term certainty over the land.
Women’s participation is another notable feature, with nearly 20 percent of beneficiaries in the current phase being women. Officials believe this reflects the expanding role of women in rural entrepreneurship.
By combining secure land tenure, financial assistance and technical support, Apna Khet Apna Rozgar has the potential to transform Punjab’s rural economy. Beyond creating opportunities for 30,000 landless families, it is expected to increase agricultural productivity, strengthen food security, generate rural employment and lay the foundation for a more resilient and self-reliant agricultural sector.
— The writer is a Lahore-based public policy analyst.
