What do you mean by land reforms? or Discuss the land reforms introduced in 1972 and 1977 in Pakistan and discuss about salient features of land reforms

The land reforms means the redistribution of land ownership in excess of certain ceiling. There are many defects in our land tenure system. The government of Pakistan realized very soon that there should be a change in this system. So just after partition few steps were taken by the government to introduce the land reforms in 1959 and following were the main features :

1. Ownership Limit :-
On person can not own more than 500 acre irrigated land or 1000 acres un-irrigated land. But in addition 150 acre he can keep for garden or postures.Over than this limit land will be taken by Govt. after making the payment.

2. Sale of Excess Land :-
Govt. will sell the acquired land to the tenants and deserving people on reasonable conditions.

3. Jagirs :-
Any type of Jagir, Charitable, religious and educational institutions will be abolished.

4. Protection to Tenants :-
Tenants illegal ejectment will be prohibited. In case of legal ejectment alternative land will be provided.

5. Proprietary Rights :-
Proprietary rights with regard to giving occupancy tenants the existing law will be operative as usual. Illegal excrete by the land lords are prohibited.

6. Impartiality :-
In any case a joint holding with an area equal to or less than a subsistence holding shall not be partitioned. It will be managed if a single unit.


Later on Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto introduced the land reforms on March 1, 1972. Following are the main features of 1972 land reforms :

1. Reduction in Ownership Limit :-
In case of irrigated land individual land holding limit was reduced from 50 acres to 150 acres. In case of non-irrigated land the maximum ownership limit was reduced from 1000 acres to 300 acres.

2. Free Distribution of Land :-
The excess land will be acquired by the state and it will be distributed among the landless tenants free of charge.

3. Shikargah :-
The area under shikargah except historical shikargah is to be resumed by the state for the distribution among the peasants.

4. Restriction on Joint holding :-
Government placed restriction on the partition of joint holding to stop further division of land.

5. Restriction on Transfer :-
Restriction were also placed on the transfer of holdings. A person holding excess land than the limit can not transfer by sale or by gift.

6. Restriction on the Tenants Ejectment :-
Restrictions were placed on the ejectment of tenants by the landlords. A tenant can not be ejected without any sound reason.

7. Stud and Livestock Farm Case :-
The area under stud and livestock farms shall be resumed and vest in government free from and charge whatsoever.

8. Revenue Concessions :-
In 1975, the government gave revenue concessions to small land owners.

9. Distribution of State Land :-
In 1976, all the occupancy tenants of the state land were declared the owner of the land.

10. Further Reduction in Limit :-
In 1977, the government announced further reduction in the limit of land ownership. The limit of individual land holding was reduced to 100 acres of irrigated and 200 acres non-irrigated land.

11. dignity and Security :-
The most distinguished feature of this land reforms is that they have given the tenants dignify and security.