RAWALPINDI, August 23: In its ongoing rationalization process, the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has made a mani- fold increase in the monthly rents of all its shops and other business concerns, shopkeepers told Dawn.

The RCB has about 200 shops, workshops, kiosks and other business firms in different places, with the main concentration in the Saddar area. Earlier, the rents ranged between Rs200 and Rs800, whereas, after the raise, the shopkeepers would have to pay Rs2,500 to Rs3,000.

The shopkeepers have strongly protested against the move. They said, under an agreement signed between them and the RCB officials in 2000, it had been decided that the rents would be raised only by 20 per cent every three years. Now, the rents have been increased without even consulting us, which is a violation of the agreement, they added.

They also complained that they were not given any maintenance charges. They said shops in shabby condition were rented out to them and they had to spent a lot of money on renovation, therefore it was unjustified to raise the rents.

Most of the shops, the rents of which have been raised, are situated on Police Station Road, Railway Road, Haider Road, City- Saddar Road, and in Lal Kurti, Akbar Market and Naugaza.

Only a few months ago, the cantonment board had made a similar increase in the rents of its residential flats in the Mall Plaza and shops in Kamran Market, triggering protests from the tenants and shopkeepers.

The RCB chief executive officer, Kh Iftikhar Mir, when asked for comments, said the rents had only been rationalized. He said the previous rents were low and not compatible to the market value. He, however, admitted that under an agreement signed with the shopkeepers, only 20 per cent increase in rent was allowed after every three years.

But, he said, they could not wait for the expiry of the agreement period, because if they did, it would not be possible for them to maintain uniformity in the rents throughout the cantonment area.