This refers to the Geo News show, ‘Capital Talk’ (July 7) by Hamid Mir. The alleged land grabbing plan for 1, 400 acres of land unearthed by the host is both shocking and heart-rending. The argument purported in defence of the plan – that the lease agreement expired in 2005 – looks absurd and malicious. The chairman of our biggest agricultural facility on the other hand maintained that the 1, 400 acres were given to the facility on lease for 99 years in 1975. Since then some 21 research institutes and several laboratories have been established on this piece of land and not even half of the lease tenure has passed yet. The summary shown by the programme host clearly states that the NARC land is to be converted into residential and commercial plots through private developers.
What has been achieved in 40 years of hard labour of our dedicated, diligent and devoted scientists cannot be shifted to an alternative land by merely moving a magic wand. The issue is of serious national concern and demands immediate and sincere efforts by all those who are at the helm of our national affairs.
Professor Joseph Bruce Gill
Rawalpindi