LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has suspended its previous ruling that prohibited the Punjab caretaker government from leasing land in three districts to the Pakistan Army for corporate farming on a 20-year lease. The earlier ruling had halted the government’s plan to hand over approximately 45,267 acres of land in the Bhakkar, Khushab, and Sahiwal districts for “Corporate Agriculture Farming” (CAF) in March.
Judge Abid Hussain Chattha had issued the verdict in response to a petition filed by Ahmad Rafay Alam on behalf of the Public Interest Law Association of Pakistan. The detailed verdict stated that the caretaker government lacked the constitutional and legal mandate to make decisions regarding the CAF initiative and policy, as per Section 230 of the Elections Act 2017.
Subsequently, in April, the caretaker Punjab government appealed the LHC’s stay order, challenging the decision to prevent the transfer of land to the army. During the recent hearing, a two-member bench led by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi reviewed the plea put forth by the caretaker Punjab government seeking to overturn the court’s order.
The plea argued that there was a contradiction in the court’s ruling and contended that regulating agricultural policies was beyond the court’s jurisdiction. The caretaker government further asserted that the earlier decision to stay the land transfer violated the law, as it had the authority to implement or finalize pending decisions or policies from the previous government.
LHC Suspends Previous Ruling
After examining the contents of the petition, the court decided to suspend its previous ruling on the matter.
Under the agreement, signed between the military, the Punjab government, and private firms involved in corporate farming, the military’s land directorate requested the transfer of approximately 42,724 acres in Bhakkar, 1,818 acres in Khushab, and 725 acres in Sahiwal. The Punjab government would provide the land, while the army would utilize its resources and retain project management. Private sector investment and auxiliary support, including the supply of fertilizers, were also part of the agreement.
Military sources clarified that the army would not take ownership of the land, as it would remain the property of the Punjab government. The army’s goal was to convert the predominantly barren or under-cultivated land into fertile soil. Revenue generated from the cultivation would be allocated, with 40% going to the Punjab government, 20% for agricultural research and development, and the remainder for future crops and project expansion.
The project’s first phase was expected to involve the cultivation of pulses, millets, and rice, followed by large-scale production of canola and wheat.
