LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) suspended its previous ruling that had halted the leasing of land to the Pakistan Army for corporate farming in Punjab’s three districts.
The Punjab caretaker government had planned to lease over 45,000 acres of land in Bhakkar, Khushab, and Sahiwal to the army for a 20-year period under the Corporate Agriculture Farming (CAF) initiative.
Judge Abid Hussain Chattha issued the initial ruling in response to a petition filed by Ahmad Rafay Alam representing PILAP. The judge ruled that the caretaker government lacked constitutional and legal authority over the CAF initiative under the Elections Act 2017.
Subsequently, the caretaker Punjab government filed an appeal in April challenging the LHC’s stay order, which has now led to the suspension of the previous ruling.
It’s important to note that the information provided is based on the available news report. The details of the case may continue to evolve as the legal proceedings progress.
The Lahore High Court’s two-member bench, led by Justice Ali Baqar, heard the plea submitted by the caretaker Punjab government.
The plea argued that the court’s earlier verdict had contradicted itself and exceeded its jurisdiction by interfering in agricultural policies. The caretaker government asserted that it had the authority, as per the law, to implement or finalize any pending decisions or policies from the previous government.
After examining the contents of the petition, the court decided to suspend its previous ruling on the matter. This implies that the transfer of land to the Pakistan Army can proceed while the case is ongoing.
The agreement
Sources indicate that an agreement was signed between the military, the Punjab government, and private firms participating in corporate farming. The agreement outlined the transfer of land for the project.
The military’s land directorate had written to various Punjab government departments requesting the handover of specific land parcels. This included approximately 42,724 acres in Bhakkar, 1,818 acres in Khushab, and 725 acres in Sahiwal.
Under the proposed project, the Punjab government would provide the land, while the military would utilize its resources and retain management control. Private sector firms would invest in the project and provide auxiliary support, such as fertilizer supply.
Military sources confirmed the development and clarified that the army would not take ownership of the land. It would remain the property of the Punjab government. The army’s objective was to convert barren and underutilized land into fertile agricultural land.
A revenue-sharing arrangement was outlined in which 40% of the revenue generated from cultivation would go to the Punjab government. A further 20% would be allocated for agricultural research and development. The remaining revenue would support subsequent crops and expand the project.
The sources indicated that the initial phase of the project would focus on cultivating pulses, millets, and rice. Large-scale cultivation of canola and wheat would follow the leasing of land to the Pakistan Army for corporate farming.
