LAHORE: Empowered under the recently amended Rules of Procedure, a special committee of the house conducted an open hearing of a public interest issue like the land lease agreement of Gymkhana Club for the first time in the history of the Punjab Assembly on Monday.

The Special Committee-6 of the house held here with MPA Samiullah Khan in the chair expressed its displeasure at the Lahore Gymkhana lease agreement under which 960 kanals of state land was given to it at a petty rate of Rs5,000 per year.

Pledging to take the issue to its logical end notwithstanding pressure from any side, it sought a report from all the relevant departments within one week.

The committee was told that the issue had been raised multiple times in the past but each time it was swept under the carpet due to pressure by the influential beneficiaries. It was also informed that the club is earning billions of rupees each year but paying the government just a paltry sum of 50 paisas per kanal.

Seeks report from depts concerned within a week

Mr Khan summoned the secretaries of colonies and housing departments as well as the Lahore deputy commissioner with the relevant record at the next hearing while the law secretary was directed to prepare comprehensive answers to the queries of the committee members and all legal aspects of the lease agreement.

The committee’s mandate had been established during the Sept 9, 2024 session of the house, when Speaker Muhammad Malik Ahmad Khan constituted it in accordance with Rule 187 of the Rules of Procedure of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab, 1997.

The action was taken following a motion by MPA Amjad Ali Javed regarding the terms of the Gymkhana Club lease.

The members pointed out that in the early 1900s, the rent was set at Rs1,600, indicating that the present rate does not reflect the true value of the land in question which stood at roughly Rs60-70 billion at a minimum.

It was also pointed out that the club also occupied an additional three acres of agricultural land within Lawrence Gardens which had not previously been accounted for.

Several committee members also raised questions about the club’s construction activities on state land, noting that no proper permissions had been obtained for building developments.

Concerns were also raised about the club’s high membership fees and monthly charges, which generate significant revenue, while no audit had ever been conducted of Gymkhana Club’s properties or its various structures.

The club has reportedly refused to respond to inquiries from the Public Accounts Committee, which raises further questions about its accountability and transparency.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2024