Peshawar: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has mandated a six-month review period for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government to address concerns about the conversion of agricultural land into industrial estates in Swabi and housing schemes in Charsadda. This directive follows the court's examination of grievances regarding the forceful acquisition of fertile land for development purposes.

According to Zameen.Com, a bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Syed Arshad Ali presided over the hearing of seven petitions filed by landowners from Swabi and Charsadda. The court has instructed the chief secretary of KP to hold a high-level meeting with key officials, including the Senior Member Board of Revenue and the Director General of the Environmental Protection Agency, to deliberate on these issues and formulate policy measures with the approval of the provincial cabinet.

The judges pointed out that despite existing prohibitions on using agricultural land for commercial activities, there have been ongoing conversions of such lands into industrial and residential developments, often without proper regulatory oversight or environmental impact assessments. The court emphasized the need for a coherent policy to protect agricultural land and manage land acquisitions more judiciously.

The bench has also highlighted the government’s previous inaction and the lack of coordination among different departments as contributing factors to the problem. In response to the petitions, the court has viewed the situation as an opportunity for the provincial government to rectify the misuse of agricultural lands and ensure that future developments are in compliance with environmental and land use standards.