'Unchecked urbanisation increasing food insecurity risks'

Scholars from Pakistan, Germany stress collaboration, policy reforms

FAISALABAD:

Punjab Higher Education Commission Chairperson Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan on Wednesday warned that unplanned migration, rapid urbanisation and shrinking agricultural land were posing serious threats to food security and sustainable living.

He expressed these views while chairing the inaugural session of the first International Conference on Migration and Labour Affairs organised by the Centre for Migration and Labour Affairs at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad.

Scholars and officials from Pakistan and abroad, including Dr Andreas Burkert from the University of Kassel, Germany, German Mission First Secretary Violetta Anand Kuzmova, UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Zulfiqar Ali, Ghazi University Vice Chancellor Dr Ashfaq Ahmad, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences Dr Waqas Wakeel and Lead Scientist Dr Sadaf Mehmood, attended the conference.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said migration and labour issues were no longer merely social phenomena but had become major economic, agricultural and environmental concerns. He noted that agricultural land was rapidly being converted into residential colonies, increasing the risk of food insecurity amid a growing population.

He also expressed concern over the rise of slum areas due to unchecked urbanisation and stressed that nearly 200 public and private higher education institutions in Punjab should serve as think tanks to address emerging challenges.

During the event, a book titled Oases Agriculture in Pakistan: Folk Tales of Agro-Pastoral Heritages, Transformation and Biodiversity, authored by Prof Dr Andreas Burkert, was also launched. The author dedicated the book to Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan and thanked Dr Zulfiqar Ali and Dr Asif Ali for their support.

Dr Andreas Burkert said the book project began nearly a decade ago following discussions with Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan to highlight the voices of people from rural Pakistan and preserve agro-pastoral heritage.