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Pakistan's Urban Sprawl Threatens Food Security, Experts Warn

Experts at an international conference in Faisalabad warned that Pakistan's unchecked urban sprawl and declining farmland are deepening food insecurity and social instability. Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan cautioned that fertile land is being replaced by housing schemes, threatening long-term food sustainability. The conference highlighted that migration and labor issues have evolved into major economic, environmental, and agricultural challenges. Universities were urged to play a stronger policy-oriented role in addressing these emerging crises.

Key Points: Pakistan's Urban Expansion Sparks Food Crisis Warning

  • Rapid urban sprawl erodes agricultural land
  • Migration and labor issues become economic and environmental crises
  • Informal settlements and slums expand
  • Universities urged to play policy role
2 min read

Pakistan's urban expansion sparks alarm over looming food crisis

Experts warn Pakistan's unchecked urban sprawl and farmland loss are deepening food insecurity, as discussed at an international conference in Faisalabad.

"Fertile land was increasingly being replaced by housing schemes and commercial settlements, threatening Pakistan's long-term food sustainability. - Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan"

Faisalabad, May 14

Pakistan's unchecked urban sprawl, declining farmland and rising migration patterns are deepening food insecurity and social instability, senior academics and policymakers warned during an international conference held in Faisalabad, as reported by The Express Tribune.

According to The Express Tribune, the concerns were raised at the opening session of the first International Conference on Migration and Labour Affairs, hosted by the Centre for Migration and Labour Affairs at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF). The event brought together researchers, education officials and international scholars to examine the growing socioeconomic impact of migration and labour-related challenges in Pakistan.

Punjab Higher Education Commission Chairperson Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan cautioned that rapid population movement toward cities, coupled with unregulated urban development, was steadily eroding the country's agricultural base. He stated that fertile land was increasingly being replaced by housing schemes and commercial settlements, threatening Pakistan's long-term food sustainability.

Dr Khan stated that migration and labour concerns could no longer be treated solely as social issues, arguing that they had evolved into major economic, environmental and agricultural challenges. He highlighted the expansion of informal settlements and slum areas as another consequence of poorly managed urbanisation. He urged universities and higher education institutions across Punjab to play a stronger policy-oriented role in tackling these emerging crises.

The conference was attended by several local and foreign academics, including Prof Dr Andreas Burkert from Germany's University of Kassel, German Mission First Secretary Violetta Anand Kuzmova, UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Zulfiqar Ali and many others. During the event, Prof Burkert's book Oases Agriculture in Pakistan: Folk Tales of Agro-Pastoral Heritages, Transformation and Biodiversity was formally launched, as cited by The Express Tribune.

Prof Burkert revealed that the project began nearly ten years ago after discussions with Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan aimed at documenting the experiences of rural communities and preserving Pakistan's agro-pastoral heritage, as reported by The Express Tribune.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone from the US, I find it concerning that Pakistan's food security is being threatened by urbanization. This isn't just their problem—food crises affect global prices and stability. Hope the conference produces actionable solutions.
K
Karthik V
Interesting that Germany is involved in preserving Pakistan's agro-pastoral heritage. We should be doing more cross-border knowledge sharing on sustainable farming. India has similar challenges with rural to urban migration.
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Riya H
This is a wake-up call for all South Asian countries. We can't keep converting fertile land into housing colonies. Pakistan should implement strict laws like we have in some Indian states for preserving agricultural land. Food security is national security.
B
Benjamin I
The migration patterns and food crisis in Pakistan mirror what we see globally. In Australia, we also struggle with urban sprawl eating up agricultural land. The key is better land-use zoning and supporting rural economies.
A
Aman W
One thing I appreciate is that Pakistani academics are taking this seriously. But talk is cheap—they need to enforce regulations on real estate mafia building on farmland. We have the same issue in Delhi NCR where agricultural land is being illegally converted.
M
Michael C
I've seen similar reports from Canada. Urban expansion without proper planning leads to food insecurity everywhere. The book "Oases Agriculture

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