HRCP’s advocacy session raises concern over exploitation caused by corporate farming

HYDERABAD: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) organised an advocacy meeting at a hotel in Hyderabad on the rights of local communities over natural resources and the growing concerns surrounding corporate farming in Sindh.

Delivering the keynote presentation on the topic, renowned expert in sustainable development and public policy Prof Dr Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar highlighted the significance of natural resources in Sindh and the systemic exploitation being faced by the local communities.

He stated that Sindh was blessed with fertile agricultural lands, forests, pastures, rivers, canals, underground water, coal, gas, oil, granite, salt, and biodiversity, but due to the flawed policies and negligence, these resources were rapidly depleting.

Dr Kumbhar warned of severe ecological damage, especially in relation to the degradation of the Indus Delta.

He noted that whereas 10 million acre-feet (MAF) of water should annually flow into the delta, the current flow was less than 1 MAF, severely affecting mangroves, fisheries and local livelihoods.

He also criticised the granite mining in Karoonjhar Hills carried out without environmental or cultural clearances, calling it a violation of both religious and ecological rights. He was of the view that no development project should proceed without consultation and inclusion of local communities.

Agha Muhammad Ansar from the Sindh Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture critiqued the current implementation of corporate farming in Pakistan. He remarked that while corporate farming existed globally, it followed transparent procedures. In Pakistan, however, the practice was being introduced without due process, public tendering or accountability, leading to what he called corporate feudalism.

Land rights activist Nazo Dharejo expressed concern over corporate farming saying that it had been dispossessing small farmers and rural women by forcibly acquiring their five-acre landholdings.

She added that the government did not even fix rates for standing crops, causing further distress in the agricultural sector. She warned that if corporate farming continued unchecked, it would bring irreversible damage to the province.

Raheem Bux, grower, acknowledged the need for promoting modern farming practices but demanded equitable support for both corporate and small-scale farmers. He pointed out that 30 per cent of Sindh’s agricultural land had already been degraded and called for attention to the deforestation that had been worsening climate conditions in the province.

Advocate Sajjad Chandio questioned the official estimates of water availability, claiming that the figure of 117 million acre-feet is flawed. Israr Chang, president of the District Bar Association, demanded that Sindh’s concerns be addressed before any policy decisions were made and called for a new agreement on water distribution among the provinces.

Civil Society representative Suleman G Abro lamented Pakistan’s weak democracy and stressed the need for building a public consensus and empowering technical voices in the legislative process.

He urged the HRCP to conduct similar sessions in major cities like Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad to amplify the voices opposing corporate exploitation. HRCP Vice Chairperson Khizr Hayat made a strong statement asserting that Sindh existed for thousands of years before Pakistan and it should have ownership of its resources.

He criticised the state for making unilateral decisions without consulting the people and referenced a recent HRCP fact-finding mission to Thar noting that the coal extracted from the desert region had not benefitted its residents.

Hayat also voiced concern over the Special Investment Facilitation Council and Green Pakistan initiatives, accusing them of enabling exploitation of ordinary citizens. He stated that the post-18th Amendment challenges had intensified and warned that corporate farming would lead to forced displacement, homelessness and migration.

He called for nationwide land reforms prioritising local farmers and giving loans and land only to those with genuine agricultural expertise. He demanded legal reforms on the provincial resource ownership and the return of land granted under corporate farming schemes.

He concluded by urging unity among the stakeholders to resist and reverse corporate encroachment. The session was also attended by HRCP Hyderabad Coordinator Ghufrana Arain, Imdad Chandio, Pushpa Kumari, Women Action Forum’s Haseen Masarrat, farmers' association leaders, lawyers and journalists.