Punjab mulls regulating commercial use of farmland

LAHORE:The Punjab government has initiated the consideration of regularising the nonessential commercial use of agricultural land in various regions. A ministerial committee meeting was convened at the civil secretariat, chaired by the convener and Punjab Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafique.

Co-convener and Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, alongside the local government and law secretaries and other relevant officials, also participated. During the session, the committee was briefed by the project management unit on the utilisation of agricultural land over the past few decades.

Expressing concern over the rapid conversion of agricultural land surrounding cities into housing societies, the committee decided to establish sub-committees to compile data from across Punjab for further examination. Addressing the meeting, Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique stressed the need for prudent use of agricultural land while meeting the escalating residential demands. “We must transition towards horizontal construction rather than vertical, discouraging excessive land usage for construction purposes,” he said.

He highlighted the Punjab chief minister’s directive to ensure the economical utilisation of available land, affirming the committee’s commitment to achieving the set objectives. Rafique underscored the economic potential of private real estate businesses while ensuring the protection of agricultural land and the stability of the real estate sector.

He emphasised the necessity of bringing illegal housing schemes under legal scrutiny. Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, addressing the meeting, expressed concerns about the proliferation of unapproved schemes not only in urban areas but also in purely agricultural regions.

He highlighted the adverse effects on agricultural production and the emergence of sewage water problems in villages. Kirmani recommended enhancing the mechanism for approving housing schemes and emphasised phased implementation in collaboration with relevant departments. He advocated for district-wise measures, particularly in more commercially active districts.