The city, which generates nearly half of Pakistan's total revenue, is plagued by extortion rackets, mafia-run land-grabs and turf wars waged by armed groups fighting for their share of resources.
Opponents call the projects "landgrabs", claim the farms will be insulated from host countries and argue that poor farmers will be pushed off land they have farmed for generations.
He sent a chill through Africa and parts of Asia, where dozens of similar landgrabs worth billions of dollars have been signed or are under negotiation.