THIS is apropos of the news item, 'Saudi Arabia in talks to lease 500,000 acres of Pakistan farmland' (Sept 2).

Although the news about buying our land is in the air for quite some time, this is the first time that an official version has come out.

In a country where people are already facing horrible food scarcity, the very idea of leasing out land to some other country reflects the utter incompetence of the government.

We ought to develop and improve our land and water resources so that not only we are able to feed our own people with honour and dignity and at the same are also able to export our food products, earning huge foreign exchange. Instead, we are doing just the opposite.

The whole world is facing food shortage. Pakistan is no exception.

It is rather facing the worst food scenario because of the injudicious government policies and water theft by India.

If Saudi Arabia is so concerned about our well-being, it should pressure India through the US to halt water theft so that our farmlands are not deprived of their agriculture products.

Saudi Arabia has huge petro-dollar reserves and can import the required food items from Pakistan if it helps to modernise our agriculture sector through improved water utilisation techniques.

I don't understand how would we able to provide water to these leased lands when we are already short of water for our own lands.

Besides, Saudi and Gulf investors have played havoc with the KESC and the PTCL, and how the hapless people of Pakistan are being victimised daily by these services and still made to pay exorbitant bills.

It is understandable what this land leasing would do with our people and the country.

MUBARAK ELAHI
Islamabad