Punjab Province

Rawalpindi: [ReNews Pakistan]
The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) and district administrations have reviewed the progress of the Rawalpindi Master Plan and discussed key land management issues affecting urban development across the Rawalpindi Division, with authorities directing relevant departments to expedite implementation and improve inter agency coordination.
The review meeting was chaired by Commissioner Rawalpindi Division and Director General RDA, Engr. Aamer Khattak. It was attended by Deputy Commissioners of Rawalpindi and Attock, Assistant Commissioners from Taxila, Gujar Khan, Kahuta, Hassan Abdal and Fateh Jang, along with senior officials of the Rawalpindi Development Authority.
During the meeting, participants received detailed briefings on land administration, property management and development-related matters in Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Murree and other tehsils of the region. Officials presented updates on the status of public and private land holdings, ongoing development activities, future growth prospects and administrative challenges being faced in their respective jurisdictions.
A detailed presentation on the Rawalpindi Master Plan was delivered by the Chief Planner of RDA, who outlined the progress achieved so far, ongoing implementation efforts and key targets that remain to be completed. Following the briefing, Commissioner Aamer Khattak directed all concerned departments to accelerate work on the plan and ensure that development objectives are achieved within the prescribed timelines.
He emphasised that close coordination among district administrations, planning authorities and other government departments is essential for managing rapid urbanisation and ensuring orderly development throughout the region. He noted that effective planning and timely decision-making would help address infrastructure pressures, population growth and changing land-use demands.
The commissioner also highlighted the importance of safeguarding public land and taking effective measures against encroachments, stating that proper land management remains a critical component of sustainable urban development. He urged officials to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and improve enforcement to protect state-owned assets and maintain planned growth patterns.
Officials further underscored the need for a comprehensive and integrated planning framework that aligns land-use policies, infrastructure development and environmental considerations. They noted that the successful implementation of the Rawalpindi Master Plan would contribute to improved public services, environmental protection, economic growth and a better quality of life for residents across the division.
The meeting concluded with a commitment from participating departments to enhance collaboration, address outstanding administrative issues and support the timely execution of development initiatives envisioned under the Rawalpindi Master Plan.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The Punjab government has abolished the 66 year old Consolidation of Holdings Ordinance and enforced a new Repeal Act as part of efforts to end the province’s outdated and complex legal framework governing land matters. A formal notification in this regard has also been issued.
Under the new law, all pending consolidation schemes across the province must be completed within 180 days. Any cases that remain unresolved after the stipulated period will be dealt with under the Punjab Land Revenue Act 1967.
According to official documents, the government will have broad powers to introduce a digital system for land-related matters, issue new instructions and modernize the revenue administration system. Officials said the move would accelerate the digitization of land records and ensure that long-pending consolidation schemes are completed within the prescribed timeframe.
Government officials said the new legislation would bring an end to the old and slow land consolidation system, while practical measures to link land records with the digital framework would be expedited. The reform is aimed at reducing long standing delays in matters related to land partition, illegal occupation, ownership disputes and record correction.
The government expects that the new system will provide farmers, landowners and citizens with faster, easier and more transparent access to mutations, record correction and other revenue services, while also improving overall land administration in the province.

Lahore | ReNews Pakistan
The shrinking of agricultural land in Pakistan, particularly in Punjab, is often linked to the rapid expansion of housing societies. However, experts believe the issue is not limited to residential schemes alone. Labour shortages, the growing trend of young people from farming families moving abroad, expensive fertiliser, pesticides, seeds, diesel, electricity and rising cultivation costs have also become major factors behind the decline in agricultural land use.
Punjab is Pakistan’s key agricultural province, producing major crops including wheat, rice, cotton, sugarcane, vegetables and fodder. However, in recent years, agricultural land around major cities has come under increasing pressure from housing schemes, commercial projects, roads and urban expansion. In districts including Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan, Rawalpindi, Sheikhupura and Kasur, the conversion of farmland into residential and commercial use has raised serious questions about food security and the future of the agricultural economy.
Real estate experts say housing societies are certainly one of the major reasons behind the shrinking of farmland, but the declining profitability of farming is also pushing landowners to sell agricultural land. When farmers do not receive a fair price for their crops, input costs continue to rise and profit margins shrink, selling land for plots or residential projects begins to appear more attractive than continuing cultivation.
People associated with the agriculture sector say the rising cost of fertiliser, pesticides, seeds, diesel, tube wells, electricity and labour has increased financial pressure on small and medium-sized farmers. For many farmers, growing a crop has become more expensive and riskier than before. If the weather turns unfavourable, the crop is damaged or market prices fall, the farmer is forced to bear heavy losses.
At the same time, the movement of rural youth away from agriculture is emerging as another major challenge. Many young people from farming families now prefer jobs in cities, industries, services or abroad rather than working in the fields. The desire to find employment in Gulf countries, Europe and other regions has particularly affected the availability of rural labour. As a result, farm workers are either unavailable in many areas or their wages have become too high for small farmers.
Experts say when young people from farming households no longer view agriculture as a secure source of future income, family owned farmland gradually moves toward non agricultural use. Some families lease out their land instead of cultivating it themselves, while others sell it to finance urban businesses, house construction, children’s education or overseas migration expenses.
Weak urban planning is another important dimension of the issue. In several areas, housing schemes have expanded over agricultural land, while vertical construction, approved master plans, agricultural zoning and protection of green belts have not been effectively enforced. As a result, cities have continued to expand in an unplanned manner and valuable farmland has been converted into residential use.
Experts believe that action against illegal housing societies alone will not be enough to protect agricultural land. The government must take measures that make cultivation more beneficial for farmers than selling land. For this, farmers need easier access to affordable fertiliser, seeds, pesticides, electricity, water and machinery, along with better crop prices, modern technology, agricultural advisory services and direct access to markets.
Real estate and agricultural experts say if rural youth are provided with opportunities in modern farming, agribusiness, value addition, cold storage, food processing and agri tech, they can turn agriculture into a profitable enterprise instead of leaving the sector. At the same time, unnecessary conversion of agricultural land, unapproved housing projects and unplanned urban sprawl must also be controlled.
Experts say Punjab needs a comprehensive policy to protect agricultural land. Such a policy should include strict monitoring of housing societies, agricultural zoning, financial support for farmers, reduction in costly farm inputs, rural employment opportunities and measures to attract the younger generation toward modern agriculture. Without these steps, shrinking farmland will not remain merely a real estate issue; it could become a major challenge for food security, employment, the environment and the national economy.