RAWALPINDI: President Z.A. Bhutto tonight [March 1] announced the much-awaited land reforms – reducing the present ceiling of land held by an individual owner from 500 irrigated acres to 150 acres and of unirrigated acres from 1,000 to 300, or an area equivalent to 15,000 produce index units, whichever is greater. In a broadcast to the nation, the President said ... the present ceiling was being slashed in one stroke by seventy per cent, without even taking into account the major concession and exemptions by the 1959 reforms. No compensation will be paid for the resumed land and it will be transferred to the tenant free of cost.

... In each province, the President added, a Land Commission will be set up to put into effect the reforms... . He said a strict time table will be put into force. Declarations of land holdings will be submitted by 30 April 1972 and these decisions will be implemented by July 1, 1972. ... In order to defeat fraudulent transactions, the President said, any transfer of land or creation of a right or interest in land from Dec 20, 1971, made by a person owning or possessing more than an area equivalent to 15,000 units on Dec 2, 1971, shall be void without question.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2022