Punjab Province

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Punjab government has approved a new policy to bring unused state land into productive use through transparent auctions and long term leasing arrangements. The policy, cleared by the provincial cabinet, assigns implementation and oversight responsibility to the Board of Revenue Punjab. Officials said the framework is designed to prevent illegal occupation of public land, increase government revenue, and create structured opportunities for private investment while ensuring that ownership of state land remains with the government. Under the policy, idle government land will be offered on long term leases ranging from ten to twenty years. While leaseholders will be permitted to develop and utilise the land, legal ownership will continue to vest with the state. The government has described the approach as a balance between economic activity and public control over strategic land assets. The policy sets clear conditions on land use, limiting leases to productive and economic purposes. Priority sectors include industry, agriculture, livestock, and tourism. Lease rights will be allocated through open and transparent auctions, a move officials say is intended to improve investor confidence and reduce the risk of irregular allocations. According to the government, land records will be updated and verified under the supervision of the Board of Revenue, with all leases subject to legal scrutiny. The policy also includes provisions for reclaiming land in cases of illegal occupation or violations of lease conditions, using established legal procedures. Government sources said the initiative is expected to improve transparency in land management, support economic growth, and safeguard public interest, while ensuring that state land remains permanently under government ownership.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan Punjab has reported the large scale recovery of illegally occupied state land following coordinated enforcement actions involving the National Accountability Bureau and the provincial administration. According to details shared during a high level review meeting in Lahore, a total of 15,667,577 kanals of state land have been recovered, mutated in favour of the government, or formally identified for resumption. The estimated financial value of this land stands at Rs 4.37 trillion. The meeting was jointly chaired by Deputy Chairman NAB Sohail Nasir and Chief Secretary Punjab Zahid Akhtar Zaman. Progress on land retrieval operations was reviewed, along with future enforcement and governance measures. The briefing clarified that the recovered land includes both parcels cleared from illegal occupation and land restored through legal and administrative processes. Participants agreed that all retrieved land would be formally returned to government ownership and utilised strictly for public interest purposes in accordance with applicable policies. The meeting also stressed the continuation of legal action against unlawful occupation, sustained monitoring mechanisms, and further strengthening of transparent land record management systems. A province wide assessment of ongoing land recovery measures was presented, focusing on outcomes achieved so far and areas requiring continued enforcement. The discussion highlighted the importance of consistent coordination among accountability institutions, revenue authorities, and district administrations to address discrepancies between official land records and physical possession. The meeting was attended by senior representatives from the Board of Revenue, NAB prosecution and operations wings, provincial legal offices, and divisional administrations from multiple regions of Punjab. The review reaffirmed a collective commitment to maintaining oversight of state land and addressing unauthorised occupation through structured, lawful, and coordinated action.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan The Government of Punjab has formally launched a comprehensive province wide groundwater recharge programme aimed at stabilising underground water levels for agricultural land and safeguarding long term farm productivity. The programme was inaugurated at Head Islam where Provincial Minister for Irrigation Kazim Ali Pirzada emphasised the critical role of groundwater in sustaining the agricultural economy rural livelihoods and food security. Under the programme restored canal systems floodwater storage mechanisms and modern recharge wells will be used in an integrated framework to ensure that rainwater and floodwater are absorbed into the ground rather than lost. This approach is intended to secure consistent and reliable water availability for key agricultural regions. In the initial phase 144 recharge wells will be constructed across major farming areas of the province. Officials stated that water stored during recent flood events has resulted in a groundwater level increase of approximately five to ten feet. This improvement has strengthened irrigation capacity improved crop water supply and begun to reduce farmers dependence on expensive tube wells. In recent years the rapid depletion of groundwater had posed serious threats to agricultural land leading to lower crop yields and rising production costs. The newly launched programme aims to conserve water resources promote sustainable agriculture and protect farmers from future water stress. Government officials confirmed that the programme will be expanded to additional districts in subsequent phases to ensure long term groundwater protection for agricultural land. The initiative reflects the provincial governments commitment to modern water management practices and the preservation of agricultural resources amid increasing climate and population pressures.