- The agreement was signed on March 8.
- The military will play a role at the management level.
- The corporate sector will also be included in this project.
ISLAMABAD: The Punjab government has allotted over 45,000 acres of land to the Pakistan Army for a ‘joint venture’ type ‘corporate agriculture’ project to increase crop productivity to ensure food autarky. year News on Friday.
“The military plays a role at the management level to make the project a success story. However, ownership of the land remains with the provincial government. The military will not have any profit or gain from corporate farming,” sources in the armed forces assured.
The report said corporate agriculture farming will be started on 45,267 acres of Punjab government land in Bhakkar, Khushab and Sahiwal districts. The project will be completed in stages.
Every year, the Army plays a role in de-cluttering canals to ensure availability of water to agricultural lands to ensure food security.
“The army also used to be a part of projects of republican importance, such as the construction of the Karakoram highway. Now he has decided to play his part in increasing the productivity of agriculture as it is the lowest hanging fruit that plays a crucial role in boosting the economic future of the country. The Army facilitates the project and nothing else. Therefore, there is no basis for criticism on social networks.
According to sources, corporate companies will also be included in this project, which will be completed in a phased manner.
Under the project, barren and uncultivated government land of the Punjab government will be used for corporate farming. Local people will be part of the modern and mechanized farming project.
“The produce is not only used to meet the country’s food needs, but also to improve foreign exchange by exporting agricultural products.”
The project is very complex because providing water to make the land suitable for cultivation will be a big challenge.
The Joint Venture Management Agreement was signed with the Government of Punjab on March 8, 2023.
“According to the agreement, the Government of Punjab will hand over 45,267 acres of its government land to the Army for corporate agriculture,” said an official correspondence dated March 10, 2023, between the Army and the Member (Colonies) Board of Review. Punjab.
For this purpose, 10,273 acres of land of Animal Husbandry Department, Mouza Rah Ghuman, Tehsil Kalloor Kot, Bhakkar District, will be acquired by the Revenue Department till March 17, 2023; By March 23, 27 acres of Forest Department, Muaza Gohar Wala, Tehsil Kallor, Bhakkar and by March 15, 9,424 acres of Animal Husbandry Department, Rah Mahni, Tehsil Mankera, Bhakkar.
981 hectares of land of Animal Husbandry Department, Chak 61 MB, tehsil and 837 hectares of District Khushab till March 17 from Punjab Revenue Department, 837 hectares of land of Agriculture Department, Chak 5 MB, Tehsil Quaidabad, District Khushab till March 18.
He was also directed to hand over 725 acres of land belonging to the provincial government under Chak 12/11 L, Tehsil Chichawatni, District Sahiwal.
Departments are allowed to retain parts subject to requirements for research needs. However, research recommendations for improving management will be shared.
