Situationer: Punjab set to launch land-lease scheme amid concerns

WITH just 124,363 acres of state land identified for immediate rollout, the Punjab Board of Revenue has set the stage for operationalising the Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar (AKAR) scheme — an ambitious but contested land-leasing initiative of the provincial government that aims to bring unused land into cultivation while empowering landless farmers. The initiative, spearheaded by the Punjab government led by Maryam Nawaz, is being described by officials as a data-driven intervention, relying on GIS-based land mapping and digital systems to identify, allocate, and monitor agricultural land across districts and parts of the Cholistan region. However, even as the scheme promises opportunity, it has triggered debate among farmer groups and policy experts over its structure and long-term viability. According to official data, the identified land is being divided into mouza-wise agricultural lots of up to five acres, each approved by district collectors. These plots are being offered on a 10-year lease, extendable for another 10 years, with the state retaining ownership and no proprietary rights granted to the allottees. Critics warn of funding shortfalls for landless farmers, advantage to influential figures The financial model has been pitched as pro-poor. Each successful applicant will pay a nominal rent of Rs100 per acre annually, while receiving a one-time development grant of Rs50,000 per acre to support initial farming activities such as land preparation and inputs. Officials maintain that the land being allocated has been verified as cultivable state land, assessed through parcel-level GIS mapping that captures soil conditions, irrigation sources, and overall suitability. Eligibility criteria are designed to target the most vulnerable. Only landless individuals, excluding those owning more than 10 marlas of residential land, can apply, with one lot allocated per family. Applicants must be residents of the same revenue estate or nearby areas, while a Proxy Means Test (PMT