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    NARC: A Story of Collusion between CDA & the Land Mafia

    NARC: Story of Collusion between CDA and Land Mafia

    Written by: Maryam Muhammad
    Posted on: July 31, 2015 | | 中文

    The National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) is the latest victim of a land grabbing mafia, in collusion with the CDA, and with the backing and support of some influential politicians. CDA plans to develop residential plots on 1400 acres of land allocated to this premier agricultural research centre of Pakistan. However, the CDA launched a housing scheme called Park Enclave on Kuri Road, about a mile away from NARC in 2011, raked in over 2 billion rupees, and has not done an iota of development work on it. What is the justification for another housing scheme, at the cost of the country’s premier agriculture research organization, and in a country where a quarter of the country’s Gross Domestic Product comes from agriculture?

    NARC was founded in 1984 and to-date, it is the largest and oldest agricultural research institute in Pakistan. It is located in Phase IV of the Islamabad Capital Territory, reserved for government educational and research institutions as COMSATS, NIH (National Institute of Health), Urdu University, Hamdard University, Pak-Turk School and NARC. The original master plan of the city had provisions to protect areas of ecological significance, particularly Zones III, IV and V; however, on several occasions, these provisions were bypassed. While the purpose of Phase IV was modified by a questionable Cabinet decision in 2010, but since Phase IV is the largest zone of the Master Plan, measuring over 282 sq km, why remove the NARC for a housing scheme when there are other large tracts of undeveloped land available in that zone?

    Billions have been invested in NARC, both by foreign donors and the government of Pakistan. One consultant of USAID declared,“ among the developing countries, this is the best national agricultural research facility of any nation”. JICA (Japanese donor agency) assisted NARC in building a state of the art Plant Genetic Research Institute to develop plant diversity for food security of the country. Shifting of genetic material to some other place is practically impossible. Due to the research carried out in their Animal Sciences Institute, Pakistan was the only country in the SAARC region that remained free of bird flu. 50,000 cows and buffaloes died of the Rinder Pest disease in Gilgit-Baltistan area in 1995. The research at NARC has successfully eradicated the disease. Equipped with green houses, labs and gene banks, the institute has been responsible for introduction of fruits and vegetables that were previously unknown to the region (avocados, strawberries, and broccoli amongst others), and substantial improvements in livestock output. NARC’s research has multiplied Pakistan’s wheat yield per acre five times since independence. It has diverted major disasters such as crop disease epidemics, poultry viruses and famines resulting from low crop yields. Furthermore, the facilities constructed at NARC over the last thirty years are immovable: forests, experimental agricultural land, seed banks and gene labs are all facilities that are either immovable, or pieces of land that can only be recreated over a span of 20 years or more. NARC simply cannot be moved to an alternate location.

    The capital’s rising population, associated use of private rather than public transport and the general indifference towards the environment are all gradually pushing the capital towards destruction. Reports indicate that the temperature rise in the capital is twice that of the global average; people aware of climate change are conscious of the fact that even a one degree change in temperature can cause torrential rains, flash flooding, extended dry spells and result in a plethora of ailments for common people. Encroachment upon forested land such as that of NARC, will only serve to exacerbate the deforestation ofIslamabad. Motivated by political and economic interests, CDA is intent upon destroying the natural landscape of the capital.

    The last factor that CDA has used cleverly in its bid to take over NARC is the lease agreement that was signed between CDA and NARC at the time of its inception. The lease was signed for 90 years, renewable every thirty-years. Since 2005, when it was due for renewal, CDA has not hesitated in accepting the yearly rent from NARC over the last ten years; therefore, according to most legal reckonings, the lease stands renewed. NARC provides housing for its employees, in the same way that the Quaid-i-Azam University and other institutions do; it is not for commercial purposes.

    When the world is moving towards a knowledge-based economy, is Pakistan going to sacrifice its premier national agriculture research institution for a housing scheme? It is a test of the integrity of our policy-makers, civil society, media and judiciary, for the financial killing to be made by private developers will grease many a palm.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021