Corporate farming sparks heated debate in NA

ISLAMABAD: Water Minister Musadik Malik has revealed that during the last interim government, an agreement was reached with two provinces to acquire large tracts of land for corporate farming.

This disclosure prompted strong opposition from Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) parliamentarians, who warned of dangerous consequences due to the planned diversion of water to irrigate 4.8 million acres of land. Syed Khursheed Shah emphasized that Sindh, a province known for its peace and stability, would resist any attempt to divert its water. He reminded the assembly of the PPP’s historical role in quelling the Sindhudesh movement and cautioned that similar sentiments could resurface if water diversion plans proceed.

“We must decide whether we want Pakistan or 4.8 million acres of land,” Shah asserted.

The issue was raised by PPP parliamentarians from Sindh, including Syed Khursheed Shah, Syed Naveed Qamar, Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur, Nawab Muhammad Yousuf Talpur, and Syed Hussain Tariq, who brought attention to the media reports of land being allocated for corporate farming, which would require significant water resources.

Khursheed Shah questioned where the additional water for irrigating this barren land would come from, given the already existing shortages. He recalled past controversies, such as the Kalabagh Dam, warning that this new scheme could trigger another crisis.

Minister Musaddik Malik responded that the Council of Common Interests (CCI) had decided on the issue during the interim regime. He noted that Sindh, now governed by an elected administration, could opt to reverse the decision, but it would have to follow constitutional procedures and use the CCI forum. Malik downplayed concerns of a resurgence of separatist movements, expressing confidence that the PPP would continue to champion the unity of Pakistan, as it did after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

The minister further explained that under the Green Pakistan Initiative, 4.8 million acres of barren land had been identified for cultivation. The government has already acquired 812,000 acres in Punjab and Sindh, with negotiations ongoing with the remaining provinces and Gilgit-Baltistan. He described the project as a joint venture between the provinces and investors, with profits to be shared between the stakeholders.

Despite reassurances, PPP parliamentarians, including Syed Naveed Qamar and Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur, continued to express doubts, particularly on sourcing of additional water and potential creation of new “landlords” under the guise of corporate farming. In the light of concerns raised, Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq referred the matter to the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Water for further discussion. The speaker also suggested that the minister arrange a detailed briefing for parliamentarians.

Former speaker Asad Qaiser also voiced concerns over the worsening law and order in Balochistan, urging the house to allocate time for a debate on the matter. He warned that the province was becoming increasingly volatile, partly due to the mishandling of grievances, and called for immediate attention to the situation.