Muzaffargarh’s ‘Sanjhi Sabzi’ Initiative Turns Vacant State Land into Free Vegetable Gardens

MUZAFFARGARH, Jul 17 (APP): Vacant state land in Muzaffargarh district is being utilized in a novel way: community vegetable gardens to provide free seasonal produce to residents.Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has given a go-ahead to the unique public welfare initiative, titled “Sanjhi Sabzi” (Shared Vegetables), which aims to utilize unused state land in both urban and rural areas to cultivate seasonal vegetables for free distribution among surrounding communities. According to an official briefing, vegetables were currently being grown on 140 plots covering 139 kanals, and residents have started receiving free produce according to their needs.

The initiative was launched in a Christian community village in Muzaffargarh and has attracted voluntary public participation, with residents also cultivating vegetables for the benefit of others. Deputy Commissioner Muzaffargarh Muhammad Usman Tahir Jappa briefed Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on the project’s progress during a meeting, says an official release. He informed the CM that government land ranging from one marla to one kanal had been identified in villages for vegetable cultivation, while vacant land adjacent to government offices and public institutions in urban areas was also being brought under vegetable farming. The project utilizes land adjoining facilities of the Health Department, Local Government Department, Forest Department, educational institutions, and the offices of assistant commissioners. Appreciating the initiative, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif described “Sanjhi Sabzi” as a model public welfare project that should be replicated across Punjab.

In recognition of his efforts, the Chief Minister awarded Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Usman Tahir Jappa the Chief Minister’s Merit Badge along with a cash prize of Rs100,000, and directed him to continue expanding the initiative to benefit more communities.