Pakistan, which is under the burden of debt, has got the support of its army. After ruling the country for almost three decades, the Pakistani Army is determined to satisfy the hunger of the people. Pakistani Army will now also play the role of guardian. There is news that Pakistani military is considering growing food grains to reduce the country’s debt. This grain will be grown on Pakistani government land.
4 lakh hectares of land taken in Punjab province: According to the news of Nikkei Asia, Pakistani Army has taken a large part of government land, where food grains will be grown for the people. However, this will not be easy because the debt burden is huge. For this, the army has devised a strategy to do farming in partnership with the public. The report says that the army will do farming on more than 4 lakh hectares of government land in Pakistan’s Punjab province. That means an area almost three times larger than Delhi. The officers implementing this plan say that growing grains will save water and also earn. This will help in increasing the declining foreign exchange reserves and reducing the rising prices of essential commodities.
What will the army grow: Pakistani Army plans to grow wheat, cotton and sugarcane in a span of 30 years. Besides this, there will also be cultivation of vegetables and fruits. 20 percent of the profit after selling the crop will be invested in research on agriculture. The remaining amount will be divided half between the army and the government. However, this plan has been disliked by many government representatives.
Why is it being criticized: Critics say that by giving government land on lease, the Pakistani Army will become the owner of the largest amount of land in the country. The job of the army is to protect from external enemies and to become an assistant to the government when needed. Nothing more can be expected from him.
Confusion over army’s plan: Many things are not clear in the plan prepared by the Pakistani Army in the government documents. For example, when will the fields become suitable for cultivation? The government land that will be taken on lease lies in the Cholistan desert. There is maximum shortage of water here. More than 1 lakh hectares of the land taken on lease is in desert. Lahore High Court had stayed the decision to transfer government land but later another bench passed it. It is also not clear whether the land that will be transferred will be under the control of the army or small landowners.
Army has no knowledge of farming: Pakistan’s agriculture expert Asif Riaz Taj said that army officers have no knowledge of farming. They may know only traditional methods of farming or they will take the help of local farmers. There are thousands of agriculture graduates in the country who are unemployed. They should be given a chance. Earlier there were reports in which it was said that the army harasses poor farmers.
This scheme will empower farmers: A lawyer said that this scheme of Pakistani government will help the farmers. If the army does farming along with them, their livelihood will be secured and the Pakistani economy will also get help.