Urbanization of Fertile Class I and II Lands Threatening Food Security in Pakistan: Feasible Solutions through Colonization of Stressed Lands – A Policy Brief

Authors

  • Muhammad Mazhar Iqbal Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Tayyaba Naz Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.
  • Hafsa Zafar Soil Chemistry Section, ISCES, AARI Faisalabad.
  • Waqas Ashraf Soil and Water Testing Laboratory for Research Faisalabad.
  • Syed Ali Zulqadar Soil and Water Testing Laboratory for Research Bahawalpur.
  • Hafiz Abu Bakar Amin Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.
  • Muhammad Umar Hayat Khan Soil and Water Testing Laboratory Sahiwal.
  • Salman Ghuffar Department of Environmental Sciences, Kohsar University Murree
  • Ahmad Mustafa Department of Software Engineering, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Abdul Rehman Department of Agronomy, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Zafar Hayat Department of Animal Sciences, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Imtiaz Hussain Department of Animal Sciences, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Irfan Ullah Department of Entomology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Abu Bakar Raza Department of Entomology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Muhammad Zeeshan Majeed Department of Entomology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Muhammad Luqman Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Studies, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Muhammad Usman Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Studies, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Hafiz Bashir Ahmad Department of Forestry, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Muhammad Waqar Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Moula Bux Peerzado Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70670/sra.v3i3.1560

Abstract

The conversion of fertile class I and II agricultural land into urban/sub-urban in Pakistan threatens greatly to food and subsistence security. The momentous encroachment of precious agricultural land has enhanced from the beginning of the swift urbanization implemented through population augmentation and migration from the countryside to urban areas mainly in Sargodha, Karachi, Lahore, and Faisalabad. Urbanization in Pakistan threatens the production of food, adding to the diet emergency in a state under constant threats of economic turmoil and rising climate change. The genesis and worries of this trend are examined in this policy brief focusing on the colonization of stressed lands underlining this challenge as the radical and pragmatic solution. The findings validate that urban development compounds food poverty through disturbances of this food system and reducing this arable land. Conclusion and references for this challenge and recommendations for optimizing this solution will be provided in this short note.

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Published

30-09-2025

How to Cite

Muhammad Mazhar Iqbal, Tayyaba Naz, Hafsa Zafar, Waqas Ashraf, Syed Ali Zulqadar, Hafiz Abu Bakar Amin, … Moula Bux Peerzado. (2025). Urbanization of Fertile Class I and II Lands Threatening Food Security in Pakistan: Feasible Solutions through Colonization of Stressed Lands – A Policy Brief. Social Science Review Archives, 3(3), 2632–2638. https://doi.org/10.70670/sra.v3i3.1560

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 3 (2025): Social Science Review Archives (July-September)

Section

Articles