Maryam Nawaz Pledges Free Land for Homeless Families in Punjab

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced on Wednesday in Lahore that her government would provide free land to people who do not own property, presenting the move as part of a wider housing and welfare push for low-income families. The announcement came during a ceremony for the distribution of residential flats to labourers.

Addressing the gathering, the chief minister congratulated workers who received housing units and said home ownership remained one of the most important forms of security for families struggling with rising costs. She noted that building a house had become increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens because of inflation and broader economic pressure.

Maryam Nawaz said the flats being handed over to deserving labourers had been built at a cost of around Rs3.5 million each and were being provided without charge. In the first phase, 720 residential flats are being distributed, while construction of 500 houses in Taxila is also nearing completion under the provincial government’s housing-related initiatives.

The chief minister further stated that 100,000 houses had already been completed under the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar Programme. She added that free land would also be given to citizens who have no property of their own, while ration cards had been issued to 1.5 million workers as part of the government’s broader labour welfare measures.

In her remarks, Maryam Nawaz said providing shelter to poor and middle-class families was a priority for the Punjab government. She described access to housing as a matter linked not only to welfare, but also to dignity, family stability and long-term social protection for vulnerable households.

The announcement comes at a time when housing affordability has become a major concern across Punjab’s urban and semi-urban areas. Rising construction costs, land prices and household expenses have made it harder for low-paid workers to purchase or build homes, increasing public demand for state-backed housing support.

The provincial government has been promoting multiple welfare programmes focused on housing, sanitation and worker support. Maryam Nawaz also referred to the Suthra Punjab Programme, saying it was being presented as a model internationally and had now been expanded across the province.

For Punjab, the proposed free land initiative could have major social and political significance if implemented at scale. It may provide relief to landless and homeless families, but its success will depend on transparent eligibility rules, fair allotment, timely development of plots and protection against misuse or political favouritism.

The next phase will be closely watched for details on who qualifies for free land, where plots will be allocated and how applications will be processed. Maryam Nawaz also announced that she would visit Azerbaijan later this week, while the housing initiative is expected to remain a central talking point in Punjab’s public welfare agenda.