Islamabad: Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday issued a stark warning over the unchecked expansion of housing societies on fertile agricultural land, calling it a dangerous trend that threatens Pakistan’s long-term food security.
Speaking at a high-level meeting attended by officials from federal and provincial departments, the Capital Development Authority (CDA), and other relevant ministries, the minister called the practice an “existential threat” to the nation’s ability to feed future generations.
“Will the coming generations have enough to eat?” Iqbal questioned, expressing deep concern over the loss of cultivable land to real estate developments. “We are selling our food future by blindly consuming agricultural land,” he said. “The environmental balance in Pakistan is deteriorating; housing greed is devouring farmland.”
He stressed the urgent need for nationwide reforms to limit horizontal urban sprawl, especially in cities like Islamabad, by encouraging vertical construction and responsible land use planning.
The minister also called for strict legal measures to curb deforestation and emphasized the shared national responsibility of environmental preservation.
In a key directive, he asked provincial authorities to compile detailed data on the extent of agricultural land converted into housing schemes over the past two decades. He stated that the lack of proper urban planning has not only put pressure on basic infrastructure but also contributed to a growing environmental and food crisis.
Iqbal urged all stakeholders to treat this as a national emergency, warning that without immediate action, Pakistan’s ability to ensure food security could be irreparably compromised.
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