Zarai Rakba — Punjab Agricultural Land Schemes
§What is Zarai Rakba?
"Zarai Rakba" (زرعی رقبہ) literally means agricultural landholding in Urdu/Punjabi. In the context of Punjab government schemes, it refers to the category of government-owned agricultural land that is earmarked for allocation to landless farmers and small cultivators.
The government periodically allocates state-owned agricultural land (recorded as government/nazool/evacuee land in revenue records) to eligible farmers through various schemes.
§Historical Context
Punjab has significant tracks of government-owned or crown land (originally evacuee property post-1947 and later state-acquired land). Historically this land was:
- •Leased or sold to large landowners (favoured elite)
- •Left underutilised or mismanaged
- •Subject to illegal encroachment
Modern scheme aims to redistribute this land to landless rural poor.
§Current Framework: Apna Khet Apna Rozgar (AKAR)
The latest government initiative formalising Zarai Rakba distribution is the Apna Khet Apna Rozgar (AKAR) Scheme 2026 launched by CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
(Full details in the Apna Khet Apna Rozgar section)
Key parameters:
- •3–10 acres per beneficiary
- •10-year lease at PKR 100/acre/year
- •50,000 families targeted
- •Balloting via akar.pulse.gop.pk
§Land Categories Under Punjab Revenue
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Shamlat Land | Common village land — sometimes used for housing/agriculture |
| Nazool Land | Government-owned urban/semi-urban land |
| Evacuee Land | Post-1947 allocated state land |
| Zirat Land | Agricultural land owned by provincial government |
| Forest Land | Under Punjab Forest Department |
§Eligibility for Zarai Rakba Allocation
Across various schemes:
- •Permanent Punjab domicile
- •Landless or marginal farmer (maximum 10 Marla residential land)
- •No prior government land allotment
- •Must personally cultivate (not sub-lease to others)
- •Must belong to the revenue estate where land is located
§Punjab Land Record System
All agricultural land transactions in Punjab are recorded through the Punjab Land Records Authority (PLRA):
- •Portal: plra.punjab.gov.pk
- •Fard (Land Record Extract): Can be obtained online or at Arazi Record Centres
- •Mutation (Intiqal): Transfer of land ownership is done through Patwari/Revenue Department
- •Zarai Girdawari: Seasonal crop registration confirming active cultivation
§Complementary Agricultural Finance
Farmers receiving Zarai Rakba land can access:
- •ZTBL Production Loans — for seeds, fertiliser, crop inputs
- •CM Kisan Card — subsidised input purchases
- •SBP Asaan Digital Zarai Qarza — collateral-free digital loan (up to PKR 500,000)
- •CM Tractor Scheme — subsidised tractor access
- •Solar Tubewell Scheme — subsidised irrigation equipment
§Punjab Agriculture Policy Direction (2025–2026)
The PDWP-approved development budget for agriculture (2025–26) signals Punjab's priorities:
- •Land distribution — AKAR scheme for 50,000 families
- •Input cost reduction — Solar tubewells, subsidised fertiliser
- •Digital credit — Kisan Card, SBP digital loans
- •Youth in agriculture — Agriculture internship programme
- •Modern farming — Precision agriculture pilots, crop insurance
§Important Contacts
| Office | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Patwari / Tehsildar Office | Local land records, mutation |
| District Collector | Land acquisition, revenue appeals |
| PLRA Arazi Record Centre | Fard issuance, digital record access |
| Punjab Agriculture Department | Scheme registration, technical support |
| ZTBL Branch | Agricultural loans |
PPG Investments Team
Pakistan Property Guide