Daily Times (Pakistan) | Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Staff Report
LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice (CJ) Khawaja Muhammad Sharif postponed until October 6 the hearing of a petition challenging the proposed sale or lease of millions of acres of agriculture land to foreign countries.
The CJ deferred the hearing to enable the Interior Ministry to file a reply against an earlier order issued by the court. The Food and Agriculture Ministry, in its reply to the petition, stated some foreign countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have shown interest in agriculture sector, but no land had been offered to the Saudi government or private investors as such decisions would be taken in consultation with the provincial governments.
These proposals were still at pre-feasibility stage and no commitment had been made with any country or private investor about leasing out the government or private land to any foreign investor. The federal government would minutely examine all aspects of foreign investment before any decision is taken, it said.
Pakistan Kissan Board President Sardar Zafar Hussain moved the petition, alleging the government was planning to sell or lease 0.5 million acres to Saudi Arabia and 1 million acres to Gulf States and other countries. He submitted the land being offered to Saudi Arabia was double the size of Hong Kong and the action would amount to depriving the people of rich and fertile soil.
The petitioner claimed the sale of land on such a massive scale could threaten the sovereignty of the country. The petitioner said the government should cultivate the land itself.