DERA GHAZI KHAN, Jan 31: A Serai or inn, built in 1940 for Border Military Police (BMP) officials and tribal people visiting the city for court proceedings and other activities, speaks volumes about the inefficiency and negligence of the BMP authorities, which are responsible for its maintenance.

Part of the 45-room inn has been declared dangerous and part of it has been converted into shops with the consent of the BMP authorities.

The inn was built on the land that was acquired on lease from the provincial government in the heart of the city for 99 years. It had 45 rooms, including two family quarters. The BMP Cooperative Society built 32 shops all around the inn to increase its income. The condition of the building deteriorated with the passage of time because of the negligence of the authorities. Now the two family quarters and 10 rooms have been declared dangerous, while seven rooms have been made part of the shops. The tribal people, who used to rent a room at the inn just for Rs20 per day, now find no affordable place to stay in the city.

Some of the rooms, which are still worth living, have been rented out to people on a permanent basis against a nominal rent. Most of the people who have got the shops on rent are not paying the rent regularly. One of the occupants, Aashiq, has wrongfully acquired seven shops on rent in connivance with BMP officials and he is not paying the rent since long.

Sources say that BMP Cooperative Society members, at a meeting with BMP Commandant Tariq Mehmood Bukhari in the chair, opposed conversion of living rooms into shops, but to no avail. But Mr Bukhari, who is in control of all matters relating to the inn, says he does not know anything about the inn.

Tribal elders of the area and retired BMP officials want restoration of the inn.