Land to be used for housing societies should be banned by the committee

According to the news report, the Prime Minister’s Land Use Committee is suggesting a prohibition on converting agricultural land for housing societies, aiming to safeguard valuable agricultural areas. The Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives has instructed the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and the Provincial Government to expedite the submission of their master plans, along with recommendations, within a week.

The committee’s recommendations encompass Land Use Planning, Building Control, and Allocating Land Use Responsibilities within growth zones to city governments throughout Pakistan.

The Prime Minister formed this committee with the purpose of contributing insights into land use planning and fostering agreement on governing the transformation of land into housing societies. The committee is overseen by the Planning Minister and comprises members such as Provincial Chief Secretaries, the Secretary of the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, the Secretary of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, as well as Provincial Ministers for Agriculture, Cooperatives, Revenue, and Local Government.

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The primary objective of this committee is to enhance Pakistan’s prosperity. This prosperity enforces strategic land use planning to safeguard the environment. Additionally, it strives to prevent the unplanned conversion of agricultural land into housing societies. The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the committee will encompass assessing the effects of converting agricultural land. They also have an effect on rural communities, agricultural expansion, food security, and the development of urban livelihoods.

Federal and Provincial Legislation

Moreover, the Committee will scrutinize both Federal and Provincial Legislation along with land use regulations. It will engage with stakeholders and sector experts to establish a consensus among provinces. These provinces concerning regulations that discourage the conversion of agricultural land.

This committee also strives to establish directives that discourage the utilization of land for constructing housing societies. Additionally, it is dedicated to devising strategies to facilitate urban rejuvenation plans through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). Moreover, it places emphasis on strategies to preserve the environment, including initiatives related to urban forestry.

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It’s important to highlight that the Land Use Committee advocated for identifying expansion growth zones for the next 20 years, with a particular focus on irrigating arid lands to achieve food crop self-sufficiency. The committee emphasized the importance of rainwater harvesting and stringent implementation mechanisms. The delineation and enhancement of settlements with varying service levels.

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