The Pakistan Army has requested that the Punjab government allocate 30000 acres of state land in Cholistan to the next of kin of martyrs, war-wounded individuals, and meritorious military personnel under the Army Welfare Scheme.
It was revealed in documents submitted to the Lahore High Court (LHC) by the Punjab government over the army’s request for one million acres of public land for “corporate agricultural farming” in Punjab.
Pakistan Army demands allotment of 30000 acres of land in Cholistan for martyrs, the Punjab caretaker cabinet was informed in its February 25, 2023 meeting that the Board of Revenue Punjab had requested a report from the Cholistan Development Authority.
The report submitted on Feb 3 said out of the proposed 30,000 acres of land, 11675 acres was already under the possession of the Pakistan Army and was available. “The remaining state land measuring 18325-Acrs were already included in the schedule of allotment to landless Cholistanis but its status was changed from ‘Category B & C to Category A’ by Pakistan Army under the banner of Green Cholistan,” read the document.
The document also showed that the military had proposed a “profit-sharing mechanism” for corporate farming in Punjab. As per the formula, 20% of profits will be used for research while the remaining will be divided 50-50 between the army and the government of Punjab.
Also read: What is Army Act?
The Pakistan Army is the land service branch and the largest component of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The President of Pakistan is the Supreme Commander of the Army. The Chief of Army Staff, a four-star general commands the army. The Army was established in August 1947 after Pakistan gained independence from the United Kingdom.
