Provinces asked for GCI land leases

SIFC-backed corporate farming initiative aims to draw foreign investment

ISLAMABAD:

The federal government has urged provincial authorities to expedite the leasing of thousands of acres of land to the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC)-backed entity, Green Corporate Initiative (GCI) Limited, to secure corporate financing. GCI's mission is to convert culturable state wastelands into productive agricultural land using modern techniques and best practices.

SIFC is spearheading a corporate farming initiative to transform Pakistan's agriculture sector into a proper industry, attracting investments, particularly from Middle Eastern countries like the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Historically, Pakistan's agriculture sector has operated traditionally, without transitioning into a full-fledged industry. To address this, SIFC has initiated efforts to modernise agriculture and boost productivity, aiming to spark a green revolution in the country.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the Ministry of National Food Security & Research informed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a high-level meeting about the need for Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), and Balochistan to provide additional land to GCI on lease. During the meeting, it was noted that Sindh's provincial cabinet had approved the lease of 52,713 acres of state land on May 30, 2024.

However, the K-P government has yet to complete land demarcation and establish a mechanism for clearing state-owned land. Meanwhile, Balochistan's provincial cabinet approved a joint venture agreement with GCI worth Rs10 billion on July 8, 2024, and has been tasked with expediting the identification of state land for leasing to GCI.

To ensure large-scale plantation projects are viable, the federal government has urged provinces, particularly K-P, along with Agriculture and Forest Departments, to devise a plan of action that earmarks significant land areas for private investment. This approach aims to achieve economies of scale in these plantation projects.

Agriculture Development Authority Act

Additionally, the federal government has asked all provinces to expedite the approval of their draft Agricultural Development Authority Acts by September 30, 2024.

The Ministry of National Food Security & Research (MoNFSR) has been instructed to identify agricultural clusters and map out value chains to support integrated policy reforms and the development of value-added products. A detailed working paper will be prepared by the food ministry after stakeholder consultations.

During the meeting, the Ministry of Water Resources discussed the Groundwater Regulatory Framework for solarised tubewells. The federal government has directed all provinces to accelerate the implementation of their frameworks, with the Ministry of Water Resources coordinating with the provinces and SUPARCO (Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission) to assess groundwater potential. A working paper will be prepared using GIS-based models and remote sensing techniques, along with alternative solutions.

The Government of Balochistan will also launch a public awareness campaign on the judicious use of groundwater. Furthermore, the President of Pakistan was briefed on the strategic development of six canals, which he endorsed, urging national consensus on the matter. Sindh's government will review its reference to the Council of Common Interests (CCI) concerning the strategic canals in light of the president's guidance. The canals are to be processed swiftly for early execution.