Senior leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Sherry Rehman, has warned that Pakistan is rapidly losing its agricultural land, and this is no longer just an environmental issue but has turned into a national emergency.
Speaking on environmental degradation, Sherry Rehman said that famine and desertification are severely affecting the country’s rural economic system. According to her, 68% of Pakistan’s land is now declared barren or semi-barren, while Pakistan tops the global index of environmental risk.
She pointed out that prolonged drought in Balochistan, Sindh, and South Punjab has increased poverty. She stated that land health is the foundation of food, economy, and environmental stability, yet the private sector is contributing only 6% toward land restoration. She emphasized that land restoration must be made part of national policy.
Sherry Rehman also said that South Asia urgently needs global financial assistance and debt relief, as developing countries are burdened by climate damage. She suggested that land restoration be linked with agricultural reforms, rural development, and environmental strategy, and serious investment be made in infrastructure to prevent famine.
