New authority to manage provincial assets
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved a plan for the establishment of the Asset Management Authority of Punjab (AMAP). According to a statement, the authority would ensure comprehensive identification, management and utilisation of the province's assets, with the aim of improving transparency, governance and revenue generation.
The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by the chief minister to review the proposed legal framework and governance structure of the authority.
The chief minister was informed in a briefing that the authority would be responsible for the identification, management, transfer, disposal, payments and marketing of provincial assets. It will serve as a central institution for managing government-owned land and other public assets, covering all matters from administration to leasing and sale.
The participants were informed that the AMAP would prepare a comprehensive digital database of government assets and ensure their regular market valuation. The authority will oversee site selection for asset transfers, prepare development and master plans, and manage the marketing, promotion and transaction design.
Government properties with investment and privatisation potential will be identified on a priority basis. Various financing and development models, including leasing, rental, public-private partnerships (PPP) and joint ventures (JV), will be utilised to maximise the value of provincial assets.
The authority will also be responsible for preparing feasibility studies, contract management, project implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed the authorities to improve revenue generation through the sale, leasing and collateral financing of provincial assets.
She observed that effective resource management required the government to have complete record of all assets owned by the province.
She noted that no single institution previously existed to regulate Punjab's scattered assets, adding that the absence of a central record, inadequate asset valuation and inefficient utilisation of government land had resulted in significant revenue losses. She also pointed out that public land remained vulnerable to encroachment, while the retrieval of valuable assets often involved lengthy and expensive litigation.
The chief minister said the autonomous institution would now be responsible for the comprehensive management and protection of provincial assets.
The participants of the meeting were informed that a high-powered governing board headed by the Punjab chief secretary would supervise the authority. A Grade-20 managing director will head its executive operations, while professionals from the private sector will also be inducted through competitive selection.
It was decided that all matters relating to the transfer, valuation and management of assets would remain subject to approval by the provincial cabinet. A governance and approval structure for the authority will be presented before a cabinet committee for approval.
Officials briefed the CM on the authority's operational process flow.
They said 98 per cent of the net income generated through projects would be deposited directly into the provincial treasury, while 2% would be retained by the authority to meet operational expenses and staff salaries.
To ensure financial transparency, a dedicated AMAP Fund will be established. The authority's governing board will comprise 11 members.
It was decided that legislation for the establishment of the authority would be introduced without delay.
Landless farmers
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also conducted digital balloting for the Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar scheme, under which 30,000 landless families were allotted cultivable state land on annual lease of Rs100 for 20 years.
The scheme covers over 121,000 acres of cultivable land and each family will also receive assistance of Rs50,000 per acre for land preparation, while the agriculture extension department will provide technical support for cultivation.
Senior Member of Board of Revenue Nabeel Javed said the programme launched on April 22 had been completed in less than three months. Around 60,000 applications had been received, including nearly 11,000 from women. Balloting for about 29,000 pieces of land has been completed, while applicants were given an opportunity for personal hearings and appeals during the scrutiny.
Allotment letters will be issued within a week and possession of the land is expected by July 31. District committees have been constituted for implementation, and lease certificates will be issued to successful applicants.
The CM said the government would continue identifying cultivable state land across Punjab for distribution among deserving landless families. She said the initiative would strengthen the rural economy, increase agricultural production and promote financial independence among low-income households. She added that women had also participated actively in the scheme, with female applicants accounting for 20 per cent overall and 29% in Cholistan.