16,685 agricultural plots to be allocated in Cholistan

BAHAWALPUR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th May, 2026) Commissioner Irfan Ali Kathia has said that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s “Own Farm, Own Livelihood” (Apna Khait Apna Rozgar) scheme will prove to be a historic initiative for landless and unemployed farmers, promoting agricultural and economic prosperity.

He expressed these views while briefing the media during a Cholistan Farmer Gathering held at Government High school Channan Pir, Tehsil Yazman, which was attended by a large number of landless farmers from the Cholistan region.

The event was also attended by Member Provincial Assembly Khalid Mahmood Jajja, MPA Bahawalnagar Mian Fida Hussain Wattoo, former Senator Chaudhry Saud Majeed, Managing Director Cholistan Development Authority Shahid Hussain Kalayani, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), Assistant Commissioner Yazman Sajjad Ahmed, and Director Agriculture Jameel Ahmed Ghori, among others.

The Commissioner stated that under the scheme, 16,685 agricultural plots will be allocated in Cholistan, benefiting approximately 101,111 families. He added that a total of 83,425 acres of land in Cholistan have been earmarked, taking into account irrigation facilities and soil fertility.

In other districts of Punjab, 13,812 plots will benefit an additional 88,780 families. He further informed that the Chief Minister has formally launched the scheme’s online portal, under which agricultural land worth around Rs. 160 billion will be distributed among landless farmers across Punjab. The identification of land has been carried out based on water availability, irrigation systems, and soil quality to maximize benefits for farmers.

Under the scheme, each successful applicant will be allocated agricultural land worth between Rs. 2.5 million and Rs. 4 million for cultivation. Additionally, a one-time grant ranging from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 250,000 per acre will be provided to make the land cultivable. The land will be allocated for a period of 10 years.

Interested farmers can submit their applications online until May 18 through the official portal. Appeals can be filed with the Deputy Commissioner between June 1 and June 8, while the final list of successful applicants will be issued on June 19. Distribution of land will commence from June 30.