The Caretaker Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Muhammad Sami Saeed, has urged provincial governments and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) to expedite the submission of their respective Master Plans, along with recommendations, within one week.
The Minister made this call while chairing a committee meeting focused on “Building Consensus for Regulating the Conversion of Agricultural Land to Housing Societies in Pakistan.” This committee was established by the Prime Minister to facilitate agreement on regulating the conversion of agricultural land into housing societies across the country.
The Caretaker Planning Minister serves as the Convener of the committee, with members including provincial Chief Secretaries, the Secretary of the Ministry of National Food Security & Research, the Secretary of the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, as well as Provincial Ministers for Agriculture, Cooperatives, Revenue, and local government.
“The preservation of agricultural land is of utmost importance given the challenges faced by the country,” remarked the Minister during the committee’s second meeting. The meeting was attended by the Secretary of the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), Additional Secretary, IPC, Chief Statistician at Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), Member Infrastructure at the Planning Commission, Chairman of Naya Pakistan Housing & Development Authority (NPHDA), and representatives from the provinces.
The Minister emphasized that addressing Master Plans, Legal Frameworks, and their implementation are crucial steps in preserving agricultural land. He reiterated the government’s commitment to safeguarding agricultural land in the country. During the meeting, relevant stakeholders from the provinces and ICT presented their existing Master Plans, legal frameworks, and mechanisms for implementing their laws.
The Minister directed these stakeholders to submit their recommendations along with their Master Plans within one week.
The committee’s Terms of Reference (TORs) encompass a thorough examination of the potential implications of converting agricultural land into housing societies, considering food security, agricultural growth, rural livelihoods, and the influx of migration to urban areas. The TORs also involve a comprehensive review of federal and provincial legislation, as well as land use and zoning regulations related to the subject.
The committee is mandated to consult with relevant stakeholders and sector experts to foster consensus among provinces regarding the introduction of rules discouraging the conversion of agricultural land into housing societies or industrial estates.
Furthermore, the committee aims to develop general guidelines discouraging the conversion of agricultural land into housing societies and explore measures for promoting vertical housing in cities and urban centers. Additionally, it will deliberate on planning future industrial zones in non-cultivable areas.
