Following the failure of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to adhere to the court directives about withdrawal of a summary requesting the Prime Minister to convert National Agriculture Research Centre's 1,395.2 acres of land into a housing scheme, the Supreme Court hinted at deciding the case on merit.
Some officers of the NARC had challenged the possible conversion of the land into residential housing scheme through private developers before the apex court with a plea that research is carried out at the Center with international institutions to promote agriculture in the country. Resuming the hearing of the matter on Thursday, a two-member bench led by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali extended the stay order on conversion of the land into residential scheme until further orders.
Appearing before the bench, Deputy Attorney General for Pakistan Syed Nayab Gardezi informed the court that the CDA has submitted its proposals regarding the land to which the government has took decision in the matter. On July 19, 2016, the CDA had submitted a report before the court about re-planning of the NARC site for revenue generation for government of Pakistan and the CDA.
The Chairman CDA has said in the report, " The Authority after due deliberation submitted summary to the government and still maintains that the land in question is not being fully utilised for the purpose it was allocated, therefore, the authority shall wait for the decision of the government." Referring to the Standing Committee on National Food Security & Research' recommendation, a member of the bench Justice Tariq Pervez observed that the committee has valued the NARC role.
The Standing Committee report says, "The committee feels that the PARC has invested millions of rupees in developing infrastructure, setting up research stations and laboratories and since 1975 has made valuable contribution in the field of agricultural research - for the reason as stated above the committee feels that there are no justifiable grounds for the cancellation of the lease agreement." Later, the CDA counsel requested for adjournment in the matter to which the court adjourned for indefinite period.