Sustaining life: Protecting Pakistan’s fertile soil and advocating against soil sealing

Abstract

Introduction

Pakistan is facing a growing crisis as rapid popula­tion expansion and shrinking fertile land put im­mense pressure on food production. One of the most alarming threats to agriculture is soil sealing—the process of covering fertile land with roads, buildings, and other structures (Amanullah, 2025). This prevents water absorption, damages soil health, and permanently removes land from food production. The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas, often driven by illegal land grabbing and poor governance, is making the situation worse. As a result, food security in Pakistan is at serious risk, with rising food prices affecting millions, especially the poor (Amanullah, 2024a; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [FAO], 2019).

With a fast-growing population, Pakistan needs more food than ever before. However, as fertile land is lost to unauthorized construction, the coun­try’s ability to produce enough food is shrinking. This leads to increased reliance on expensive food imports, putting a strain on the economy and slow­ing national development. If this issue goes un­addressed, Pakistan could face severe food short­ages, making it difficult to meet the basic needs of its people (Amanullah, 2024b; FAO, 2019; Inter­governmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC], 2019). . . .