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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army has been allocated at least 45,267 acres of agricultural land in three districts — Bhakkar, Khushab, and Sahiwal for ‘Corporate Farming’ by the caretaker government of Punjab.
According to a document, the military’s land directorate wrote to the Punjab chief secretary, Board of Revenue and secretaries of the agriculture, forest, livestock and irrigation departments for handing over of 42,724-acre land in tehsils Kaloor Kot and Mankera in Bhakkar, 1,818 acres in tehsils Quaidabad and Khushab in Khushab, and 725 acres in tehsil Chichawatni of Sahiwal.
The letter referred to a notification of the Punjab government dated Feb 20, 2023, and a joint venture (JV) agreement of March 8. It reminded that “while signing the JV management agreement on March 8, it was decided that state lands immediately required for the project be handed over to Pakistan Army.”
According to the media reports, the JV has been signed between the military, the Punjab government, and private firms dealing with corporate farming.
The Punjab government would donate the land, and the army will use its resources and continue to administer the project, according to the media report. On the other hand, the private sector will make investments and offer supplemental support, such as the supply of fertilizers.
The reports said that the project will be managed by retired army officers and the army will not get any pecuniary benefit out of this project rather the profit from the farming will go to the locals, the Punjab government, and firms that will invest in the project.