Pakistan

UAE foreign investment in food production have so far focused on leasing Pakistan and Sudan’s agricultural land, with new prospects in Cambodian rice, Canadian wheat and Australian beef. Alongside the strategic deals at the national level, private investment has followed which should open new channels of trade, for example, Al Qudra Holding has plans to grow grain and vegetables in Vietnam and Croatia as well as Pakistan.

Corporate farming will raise food production in Pakistan and local people would get required food items. It will export only extra food stocks to foreign countries, disclosed advisor to Chief Minister, Sindh, Sharmila Faruqui.

Participants of the ‘Jang Economic Session’ have opposed the policy to transfer land either on lease or on permanent basis to foreigners on the pretext of corporate farming.

Roots for Equity Director Dr Azra Sayeed demanded that the Pakistani government stop giving agricultural land on lease to foreign food companies, and rather that these lands should be given to local growers to overcome food crisis in the country.

Cambodia will be the fourth country after Sudan, Egypt and Pakistan to receive UAE investments intended to achieve a food security plan drawn up by the government. Large-scale planting on Cambodian land acquired through purchase or 99-year lease may be launched there next year.

On October 15 2009, the Lok Sanjh Foundation and the Pakistan Dehqan Assembly organized a conference on rice and the food crisis, focusing on small farmer livelihoods. More than 600 farmers, tenants, landless workers and partner organizations from different parts of the Sheikhupura region participated in the event.

The chief justice of Lahore's High Court directed the Ministry of Food and Agriculture that no land would be sold or leased out to any foreign country without prior intimation to this court.

In view of food insecurity in Pakistan and dozens of women losing their lives just to get a few kilos of flour, there was no justification of selling agricultural land to foreigners, said Dr Azra Talat Sayeed

International experts and representatives of civil society have demanded an end to land leasing to foreign investors and countries.

Special issue on the Pakistani government's plans to dole out domestic farmlands to the Gulf countries on 99-year lease for corporate farming.

Critics say that by seeking to solve their food shortage problem through foreign farmland acquisitions, the rich emerging economies may succeed in producing enough quantity for their populations but may in the long-term be exporting their food insecurity to other nations.

The Zardari government is on trial with respects to three developments, of which the possible lease of land to Saudi Arabia and some other Arab countries, because they are of historical significance for Pakistan.