LAHORE:The new flat-rate abiana system has triggered mixed reactions from Punjab’s farm and water sector.While Farmers Associates of Pakistan Director Ebadur Rehman warned that the nearly tenfold increase in abiana in last several years has become an added financial burden for farmers without delivering immediate relief, former Punjab Irrigation Minister Mohsin Leghari sees a potential upside.
He hoped the higher collections will meet targets and be ring-fenced for repairing Punjab’s dilapidated canal network, arguing that farmers will only benefit if the extra revenue is spent on maintaining the water infrastructure they rely on.
Mohsin Leghari, while commenting on the development, expressed hope that the additional revenue from higher abiana rates is actually collected as per target. He prayed that these funds are ring-fenced and spent only on the urgent maintenance of Punjab’s dilapidated water infrastructure.
He stressed that canals, distributaries, and control structures are in poor condition, and unless this money is used for their repair and upkeep, farmers will not see any real benefit from paying higher charges.
Ebadur Rehman has raised concerns over the new abiana system implemented from June 24, 2026 if compared with what was imposed a few years back. He said abiana used to be around Rs200 per acre annually. Now it has increased almost tenfold in a short period, putting additional financial pressure on farmers.
According to him, the flat-rate system has not benefited any farmer so far because rates due to corrupt practices and gaps in collection system. He explained that one reason for moving to a flat system could be to stop misuse by patwaris.
Earlier, patwaris would take money from farmers and show sugarcane or rice fields as fodder, or maize fields as wheat in records. This created errors in statistics and allowed patwaris to make illegal gains. Rehman noted that while the new system will create a hurdle for such corruption, it has also become an added financial burden for farmers, especially those who cultivate crops with less water. He added that it appears the government is now using abiana as an indirect and easier way to collect agricultural tax.
