Khanewal farmers protest delay in lease letters

Eleven farmers selected under Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s “Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar” initiative have protested over the delay

KHANEWAL: Eleven farmers selected under Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s “Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar” initiative have protested over the delay in receiving lease letters for approximately 950 kanals of agricultural land in Chak 63/10-R. The farmers allege that the transfer process is being delayed because of the influence of an influential local figure who, they claim, is supporting people occupying the land.

The affected farmers recently held a demonstration outside the Revenue Department office at the District Complex in Khanewal. They demanded that the authorities issue their lease documents immediately and complete the process of handing over the land allotted to them through the government’s official balloting process.

According to the protesting farmers, nearly 950 kanals of agricultural land in Chak 63/10-R was designated for lease to 11 deserving applicants who were selected through a formal draw under the provincial government’s scheme. However, they claimed that the land has remained in the possession of alleged illegal occupants for almost 40 years.

The farmers said the occupants had earlier approached the Lahore High Court and obtained a stay order regarding the disputed property. They claimed that the relevant bench of the Lahore High Court dismissed the stay order on August 3, 2026, which, according to them, removed a major legal hurdle in the way of implementing the government’s allotment decision.

Despite the dismissal of the stay, the protesting farmers alleged that the Punjab Revenue Department and the Khanewal district administration had not yet issued the required lease letters.

They further alleged that the individuals occupying the land had the support of an influential political figure in the area. The farmers claimed that political pressure was contributing to the delay and preventing the concerned departments from completing the formalities required for the transfer of the land.

The applicants also pointed out that their names and allotment information are already available on the Punjab government’s official online portal for the “Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar”scheme. They questioned why the authorities had not issued the lease documents despite their successful selection through balloting and the reported dismissal of the court stay.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), Khanewal, was contacted to obtain the administration’s position on the matter, including the delay in issuing the lease letters, the current legal status of the disputed land and the allegations of political interference.

However, an official response from the ADCR was not available at the time of filing the report. The administration’s version will be included once an official response is received.

The affected farmers have appealed to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Deputy Commissioner Khanewal Dr Hina Arshad Commissioner Multan Aamir Karim and the Senior Member Board of Revenue Punjab to take immediate notice of the issue.

They demanded that the lease letters be issued without further delay and that possession of the allotted land be handed over to the successful applicants according to the balloting results, government policy and applicable legal procedures.

The protesters also urged the provincial government to ensure transparent implementation of the “Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar” scheme and prevent any political or external influence from affecting the rights of successful applicants.