ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has expressed grave concern over reports of denuding of mango orchards and conversion of them into an urban property over the past years by the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) in Multan and sought a transparent inquiry into the matter.

“Reckless conversion of mango orchards and farmlands into urban property will have a disastrous impact on agriculture, food security and environment,” said PPP secretary general and former senator Farhatullah Khan Babar in a statement issued here on Monday.

“Food security is far more important than building housing authorities,” declared Mr Babar while calling for a transparent inquiry into these reports.

The PPP leader regretted over reports that tens of thousands of mango trees had been felled and said reports that the land under mango orchards had been taken over by DHA for housing scheme were disturbing.

“Apart from transparent inquiry a course correction and a plan to protect farmlands and fruit orchards is also badly needed,” the PPP secretary general said.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2021