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LAHORE: The Punjab Governor, Chaudhry Sarwar, has announced opening of the Governor House for the public on Sundays, saying that all national assets belong to the people of Pakistan.
At a news conference, the governor said the historic building would initially be opened for families on Sundays between 10am and 6pm. It would also be opened for the schoolchildren on a formal request to the administration, he added.
He said the Governor House in Murree had already been made accessible to the public.
In the first phase, Mr Sarwar said the Governor House parks, lake, zoo and swimming pool were being opened so that people could see the historic building.
He said the decision had been taken on the instructions of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Mr Sarwar said the PTI wanted to dispel the impression that Pakistan was created for the elite.
He said the days had gone when the accountability used to start from officials in lower ranks.
The PTI government would start the accountability from the prime minister, chief ministers and governors, he added.
Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2018
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Comments (24) Closed
Sep 11, 2018 09:33am
"Punjab Governor House to be open for public on Sundays"
The public would do well to do some useful work rather than visiting the Governor House on Sundays.
Opening the Governor House to the public is not going to reduce expenditure on its upkeep unless people are asked to buy tickets to enter the building.
And I do not know what would be there to see inside.
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Sep 11, 2018 09:39am
All provinces may lease the Governor Houses for 2 years or more through tenders. Each Governor House can get a rent revenue of 1 billion rupees annually, even more. Governor can have a seperate Office in CM House. Similiarly the President House may be rented out, and President can have his office in PM House. Just opening for families on Sunday like Zoo schedules will not suffice. It is far respectable and better to generate revenue domestically, instead begging to International Institutions one after another, and accepting their tantrums.
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Sep 11, 2018 10:34am
Its a good symbolic but how is this going to add any real value or create wealth in Pakistan. This is going to be just another Mela/picnic. Instead what should be done that have some event organized in the Governor house which could be a debate or some education function or something similar on weekly basis. When I come up with more ideas I will publish it here.
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Sep 11, 2018 10:43am
So are you letting the public Swim in the Governor's pool and have playgrounds for the children in the big Governor's Garden and open the library," if they have one" for the young people to sit and read.
Or what is the purpose of opening the Governor House to the the people. ????? I hope it is not just a short term stunt to fool us all .
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Sep 11, 2018 11:07am
To open governor house or PM house is not your Job. First you should concentrate on your 100 days plan which is most important
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Sep 11, 2018 11:10am
Why would people visit Governor House to just "see" the lake,zoo or the swimming pool.Where is the public's participation in it?Where is the promise to convert Governor house into a University or a Hotel so that people of Pakistan can fully avail this facility?Merely allowing public to visit on Sunday means this was a false promise.
Why don't we abolish all four Governor Houses by making a constitutional amendment as this institution is serving no good to the people of Pakistan.Seems PTI is backtracking on its own vision of Naya Pakistan.
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Sep 11, 2018 11:13am
What benefits public or government will get by this idea of opening ?
It's very simple to understand that the present government is unable to understand what to do with these buildings. And the present government has made it a matter of pride or ego that governor houses are a burden. To certain extent that's true but what should be the end of such huge construction s that's also unknown to them.
Think of using for some practical purposes.
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Sep 11, 2018 11:15am
Can we now go to real issues, Please?
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Sep 11, 2018 11:22am
@Magnanimous approach
1,000,000,000 / 365 = Rs 2,739,726 per day
Really?
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Sep 11, 2018 11:29am
Is it only for public to visit the Parks? The understanding from Imran Khan has been a better utilization in the form of converting it to an international university. I suggest that statements should be well thought of and be based on real challenges on issues.
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Sep 11, 2018 11:35am
@Magnanimous approach Do you really know what is location of president house etc? Have you ever passed through the roads and do you know what type of buildings are located around that periphery? Let me help you president and PM house are part of the bigger complex which is properly designed from security point of view and is located in one of the corner of ISB. This whole complex may have some of the most sensitive civilian and military establishments in that area as it is easy to secure. An entry or exit to this whole area is strictly guarded and monitored so how can you make them public? If our PM has to fly from one location of ISB to the other then what solution you will propose for the public to visit the locations which are adjoining to some sensitive installations
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Sep 11, 2018 11:58am
As per PTI agenda, All Governor Houses immediately convert to Public Welfare instead of to give innocent schedule to open for public, later on it will close for security threads.
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Sep 11, 2018 12:13pm
Since the inception of new Pakistan, the older buildings of have become "Museum".. people would go there to see building as well as governor the "attraction".
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Sep 11, 2018 12:20pm
Opening the governor house for public viewing for few hours each week is a symbolic measure compared to what was previously stated by PTI. Sell these buildings or use them for productive and revenue generating purposes . Anything else is going back on what was stated earlier
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Sep 11, 2018 12:38pm
Excellent decision and a good start. I live in British Columbia and our governor’s residence is open to public every day of the week. In fact, the beautiful gardens are maintained by public volunteers. PM And Governor General’s House in Ottawa is also open to the public.
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Sep 11, 2018 12:49pm
@Socrates perhaps this is why you should visit it on a sunday?
You need to understand it is not all about bringing the costs down, but also to send a message to all elite in Pakistan that its time to change and know they are no superior than an average Pakistan.
Stop being a keyboard warrior and appreciate good intentions of our new Government. Change yourself first then expect a change in Pakistan!
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Sep 11, 2018 12:52pm
@Socrates. It is not about "what would there to see inside" it is the attitude of those elected, now, and those elected previously. I think this move tells the public about ownership of our country.
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Sep 11, 2018 12:54pm
Why only opening Punjab governor house on Sunday, and why not on Friday and Saturday as well?
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Sep 11, 2018 01:02pm
@Magnanimous approach. Yes rent all these big edifices to multi-nationals. or even start a university, art gallery, Hotel, I think the plans of these edifices should be given to the public, and the public at large should be given the opportunity to propose how best to use these facilities to generate funds for the nation. Instead of eating away at the exchequer, this will be a net contributor.
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Sep 11, 2018 07:09pm
A question worth pondering, if governor houses are not in need then what is the need of a governor, after all that post is also a kind of burden on national exchequer. Isn't it ?
(However, I don't oppose or object, their intentions of having such huge buildings for a man who is in fact doing what)
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Sep 11, 2018 10:01pm
It is just a lame ego satisfaction of people to visit henceforth highly secluded Governor house, which in fact is the symbol of monsterous 90 years of slavery under the British Raj. It is a multi billion dollar worth of wastage now, if not used to generate sufficient funds by any appropriate means.
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Sep 11, 2018 10:01pm
Chaudhry Sarwar is power hungry despot who wouldn't think twice about putting his own interest before that of the country. He was caught in England trying to bribe an opponent then caught cheating the tax system when caught with £900,000 stashed in carrier bags at his properties.
Why has a criminal reject in the UK been accepted so readily by PTI?
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Sep 11, 2018 10:21pm
PM Imran has been saying that he is going to convert them into universities.
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Sep 12, 2018 05:58am
Then why national assets end up in your foreign bank accounts??
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