Islamabad: The Ministry of Climate Change will advise provincial authorities on the development of a masterplan for the country’s major cities — with the initiative aimed at protecting cultivatable land in the selected cities from the rising number of residential schemes, according to a news source published on October 1.
The Climate Ministry has been tasked by Prime Minister Imran Khan to prepare proposals for the provincial government in order to help them incorporate environment-friendly steps within the masterplans being developed for the country’s major metropolises — with new legislation to be drafted for the purpose.
Presently, the establishment of a residential scheme on cultivatable land is a criminal offence. The constitution of Pakistan empowers the state to impose conditions on the use of the land. This makes it mandatory for developers to ask for official permission before using the said land for other purposes. However, this clause has been exploited ruthlessly by the construction entities.
The initiative has been launched after concerns were raised that a rapid conversion of cultivatable land into residential projects was taking place, especially at a time when the country (and the world) needs more farms to accommodate increasing populations.
Hazafa reveres the art of writing and has been turned into a property enthusiast by profession. Her daily survival kit includes; tea, coffee, keyboard and paperbacks.
