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KARACHI - The political parties including PPP, PML-N, MQM, ANP, PTI and others at a consultative policy seminar on Tuesday made commitment to bring new land and agrarian reforms after coming to power in next general elections. However, a PPP leader disclosed that judiciary and army officers are the main hindrance in land reforms.
The seminar on the theme of Land and Agrarian Reforms on Political Agenda of Pakistan: Critical Review of Election Manifesto was organised by Society for Conservation and Protection of Environment (SCOPE) in collaboration with National Peasants Coalition of Pakistan, Oxfam Novi, Land Watch Asia, Drynet, International Land Coalition and ANGOC International here on Tuesday. PML-N leader Siddiqul Farooq while addressing the seminar vowed to bring land reforms if his party comes to power.
He said that we would provide small loans to farmers, particularly women. He recalled that PML-N had distributed lands among deserving farmers in 1997. He said that we should give agriculture as the status of industry.
Former senator and PPP Sindhs general secretary Taj Haider said that water logging and salanity was badly affecting agriculture land and the last PPP government took steps in this regard. He said that a vast area of the land was hit by water-logging and salinity which needs to be eradicated.
He said that we could raise crop production by eliminating water-logging and salinity. He said that eight small dams were being built on the right bank of Indus River and on the left side of Indus River, we should reactivate low lying areas to boost agriculture productions.
He said that agriculture sector has become self-reliant during the last five years. He said that 2.2 million acres of land had been submerged by sea in Badin and Thatta districts.
PPP leader disclosed that the Army officers, whether they are serving or retired, are big land holders in Pakistan, claiming that the army officers and judiciary are main obstacle in the land reforms in the country.
He condemned the Tenancy Bill passed by the outgoing government of Sindh of his party, in which according to him rights of the farmers have further been snatched.
Senator Haji Adeel of ANP said his party was determined to bring land and agriculture reforms in the country, however, political will was mandatory in this regard. He said that maximum land with one family should be 25 canal and 50 barani acres. He said that Khyber PakhtunKhwa province had been deprived of industrial growth because it faces loadshedding up to 18 hours. Our province produces 5000 to 6000 mega watts of power but in return it is deprived to fulfill electricity need of 220MW. He said that gas load shedding is also hitting hard the people of the region.
MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizivi said that Muttahida was sole party in the country that had brought a bill on land reforms in the parliament. Rizvi said that it was irony that no one talked on the bill. He said that 70 percent landlords in assemblies would not allow land reforms. He said that feudal system should be eliminated from the country for good of farmers and agriculture development.
He said that 80 percent land in Pakistan was not the real property of landlords and it could be proved by verifying the record. He said that constitution does not give right to own land in Pakistan. However, the land could be given on lease for 90 years. He said that we want computerization of land record. The MQM want small loans should be provided to farmers so that they could grow their crops with peace. He stressed the need to introduce cooperative farming.
He said that a family could pass its life with respect if it has 36 acres of canal and 54 acres of barani land.
Abid Hassan Minto, chairman of Workers Party of Pakistan, said that economic instability in Pakistan is due to acts of richest class, particularly feudal lords. He said that his party would continue its struggle to bring land reforms in Pakistan. The party is also determined to strive for elimination of feudal system from the country. We have filed an appeal in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, seeking review of Shariat Bench decision that declared land reforms against Shariat law. He said that the decision in this case is likely in April.
He said that democracy would never flourish in Pakistan till feudal system exists.
PTI leader Shahid Zia said that his party would bring land and agrarian reforms if comes to power in next general elections and it would computerize whole land record of the land.
Scope CEO Tanvir Arif said that main reason of poverty in Pakistan is terrorism which needs to be eradicated. He said that rise of Talibanisation is causing raise in crime rate in the country, particularly in Karachi. He said that the political parties should adopt positive attitude and bring land and agrarian reforms in the country so as to ensure food security and significant development in Pakistan.
He said that one-third people in Pakistan live itral areas and out of them 50 percent are peasants. He said water-logging sailanity is like a cancer which is badly affecting agriculture in the country , therefore, the government should take effective steps to bring an end to it. As we are proceeding to hold general elections, we have invited political leaders to discuss land reforms and find solution to introduce them.
Tanvir said that some parties have incorporated land reforms in their manifestos while remaining ones are required to include the same before elections.
Najama Sadiq, a noted journalist, opposed formation of small dams in Pakistan, as saying the US is breaking up its all small dams. She said that heavy machinery use in land is harmful for the soil. Najma said that land reforms are social will but not the political one.
Farzana Bari said that there is no clear concept about land reforms in Pakistan as it is still not known that how much land possessed by political leaders in the country.
Minhaz Paracha of Oxfam Novib, Zulfiqar Halepoto and others also shared their views.
âJudiciary, Army obstacle in land reformsâ
The seminar on the theme of Land and Agrarian Reforms on Political Agenda of Pakistan: Critical Review of Election Manifesto was organised by Society for Conservation and Protection of Environment (SCOPE) in collaboration with National Peasants Coalition of Pakistan, Oxfam Novi, Land Watch Asia, Drynet, International Land Coalition and ANGOC International here on Tuesday. PML-N leader Siddiqul Farooq while addressing the seminar vowed to bring land reforms if his party comes to power.
He said that we would provide small loans to farmers, particularly women. He recalled that PML-N had distributed lands among deserving farmers in 1997. He said that we should give agriculture as the status of industry.
Former senator and PPP Sindhs general secretary Taj Haider said that water logging and salanity was badly affecting agriculture land and the last PPP government took steps in this regard. He said that a vast area of the land was hit by water-logging and salinity which needs to be eradicated.
He said that we could raise crop production by eliminating water-logging and salinity. He said that eight small dams were being built on the right bank of Indus River and on the left side of Indus River, we should reactivate low lying areas to boost agriculture productions.
He said that agriculture sector has become self-reliant during the last five years. He said that 2.2 million acres of land had been submerged by sea in Badin and Thatta districts.
PPP leader disclosed that the Army officers, whether they are serving or retired, are big land holders in Pakistan, claiming that the army officers and judiciary are main obstacle in the land reforms in the country.
He condemned the Tenancy Bill passed by the outgoing government of Sindh of his party, in which according to him rights of the farmers have further been snatched.
Senator Haji Adeel of ANP said his party was determined to bring land and agriculture reforms in the country, however, political will was mandatory in this regard. He said that maximum land with one family should be 25 canal and 50 barani acres. He said that Khyber PakhtunKhwa province had been deprived of industrial growth because it faces loadshedding up to 18 hours. Our province produces 5000 to 6000 mega watts of power but in return it is deprived to fulfill electricity need of 220MW. He said that gas load shedding is also hitting hard the people of the region.
MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizivi said that Muttahida was sole party in the country that had brought a bill on land reforms in the parliament. Rizvi said that it was irony that no one talked on the bill. He said that 70 percent landlords in assemblies would not allow land reforms. He said that feudal system should be eliminated from the country for good of farmers and agriculture development.
He said that 80 percent land in Pakistan was not the real property of landlords and it could be proved by verifying the record. He said that constitution does not give right to own land in Pakistan. However, the land could be given on lease for 90 years. He said that we want computerization of land record. The MQM want small loans should be provided to farmers so that they could grow their crops with peace. He stressed the need to introduce cooperative farming.
He said that a family could pass its life with respect if it has 36 acres of canal and 54 acres of barani land.
Abid Hassan Minto, chairman of Workers Party of Pakistan, said that economic instability in Pakistan is due to acts of richest class, particularly feudal lords. He said that his party would continue its struggle to bring land reforms in Pakistan. The party is also determined to strive for elimination of feudal system from the country. We have filed an appeal in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, seeking review of Shariat Bench decision that declared land reforms against Shariat law. He said that the decision in this case is likely in April.
He said that democracy would never flourish in Pakistan till feudal system exists.
PTI leader Shahid Zia said that his party would bring land and agrarian reforms if comes to power in next general elections and it would computerize whole land record of the land.
Scope CEO Tanvir Arif said that main reason of poverty in Pakistan is terrorism which needs to be eradicated. He said that rise of Talibanisation is causing raise in crime rate in the country, particularly in Karachi. He said that the political parties should adopt positive attitude and bring land and agrarian reforms in the country so as to ensure food security and significant development in Pakistan.
He said that one-third people in Pakistan live itral areas and out of them 50 percent are peasants. He said water-logging sailanity is like a cancer which is badly affecting agriculture in the country , therefore, the government should take effective steps to bring an end to it. As we are proceeding to hold general elections, we have invited political leaders to discuss land reforms and find solution to introduce them.
Tanvir said that some parties have incorporated land reforms in their manifestos while remaining ones are required to include the same before elections.
Najama Sadiq, a noted journalist, opposed formation of small dams in Pakistan, as saying the US is breaking up its all small dams. She said that heavy machinery use in land is harmful for the soil. Najma said that land reforms are social will but not the political one.
Farzana Bari said that there is no clear concept about land reforms in Pakistan as it is still not known that how much land possessed by political leaders in the country.
Minhaz Paracha of Oxfam Novib, Zulfiqar Halepoto and others also shared their views.
âJudiciary, Army obstacle in land reformsâ
