LAHORE, March 2: As many as 6,242 families of landless farmers have been allotted more than 78,000 acres of state land worth Rs15.6 billion in 18 districts of Punjab so far.

This was stated at a meeting held here on Friday with Punjab Colonies Minister Manazar Ali Ranjha in the chair to review the progress of land distribution in the province.

The participants were told that land distribution was in progress in Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Vehari, Multan, Khanewal, Layyah, Khushab, Sheikhupura, Pakpattan, Lodhran, Okara, Sargodha, Jhang, Mianwali, Muzaffargarh, Faisalabad and Dera Ghazi Khan districts through ballot to ensure transparency. The land was being distributed among the farmers who were landless or owned up to four acres of land after scrutiny of applications.

The minister ordered completion of the first phase of the scheme in 18 districts by the end of April and making arrangements for launching the second phase in the remaining 17 districts of the province.