Govt to regulate commercial use of agricultural land

The Punjab government has announced plans to establish an authority to regulate the commercial use of agricultural land, aiming to streamline development processes and ensure responsible land usage.

This decision was made during a meeting of a special committee formed by Punjab chief minister, chaired by Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq at the Civil Secretariat.

The meeting was attended by key figures, including Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, Senior Member of the Board of Revenue Nabeel Javed, Secretary Local Government Shakeel Ahmed Mian, representatives from the real estate sector, and other relevant officials. During the meeting, the participants discussed proposals to regulate commercial activities on agricultural lands and the creation of a provincial authority to oversee the approval of land master plans for housing schemes.

The aim is to address the unplanned commercial use of agricultural lands around urban areas, which has caused both administrative and environmental challenges.

Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafiq emphasized the need for a unified authority, stating, "Complexity arises when different government departments handle the same task. Establishing a provincial-level authority will ensure that citizens and developers receive all necessary facilities from a single platform." He stressed that unregulated development without proper planning leads to various issues and promised the introduction of new legislation to ensure transparency in commercial schemes.

Rafiq further highlighted the importance of responsible development as the population grows, noting the necessity of preventing the spread of illegal housing schemes.

"We are taking steps to stabilise the real estate sector and protect the livelihoods of people associated with it," he said.

He also pledged to protect citizens from exploitation due to unapproved schemes, ensuring their rights are safeguarded.