PA shocked by Rs417 monthly lease for Gymkhanas

LAHORE: Punjab Assembly legislators were stunned on Wednesday to learn that state-owned land is being leased for merely Rs417 per month for gymkhana clubs in the province.

According to a ruling party MPA, Mian Amjed Ali Javaid, who was speaking on a point of order, the state-owned land was being provided for gymkhana clubs in Punjab on a month lease of Rs 470.

“The land is being leased for Rs 470 per month,” asked the Punjab Assembly speaker from the MPA. Sami Ullah Khan, another ruling party MPA, told the chair that it was not Rs470 but Rs417 per month. This revelation took legislators across the divide by surprise, and Speaker of the Punjab Assembly Malik M Ahmad Khan himself admitted that he was unable to say anything in this regard.

Saeed Akbar Niwani, one of the senior-most members of the House, stated on the occasion that it was highly regretful that a poor man was charged lakhs of rupees, whereas such a meagre amount was charged for gymkhanas.

‘We will not be able to do anything, I am saying this on the floor of the House, neither we can enhance the amount nor reduce it,” said Saeed Niwani. Minister Mian Shujaur Rehman, on the occasion himself, confessed that it was really surprising for him and said that he would pose questions to the department concerned over it.

He said that he was unaware of the fact as to which department owned this land. Opposition MPA Rana Aftab Ahmad Khan said on the occasion that it was state-owned land and that the department must be asked to explain its position in this regard.

Meeting reviews preparation of new LG bill

The meeting of the special committee formed by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was held at the Civil Secretariat under the chairmanship of Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique here on Wednesday.

Members of the committee MPAs and officials concerned attended the meeting. The committee deliberated upon matters of preparation of the new Local Government bill. During the meeting, proposals for upgrading status of Sialkot, Okara and Rahimyar Khan’s local bodies, creating a metropolitan corporation for more than five lakh population and at all divisional headquarters were considered.

Apart from this, the consultations were made on the determination of the population of the Union Council and the establishment of town committees. Addressing the meeting, Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique, who is also the convener of the committee, said that we will move forward while learning lesson from past experiences. He said that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz wanted an effective local government system in Punjab. “In this context, such a system will be devised which could deliver in the true sense,” he pledged.

He said that the committee will send its recommendations to the provincial cabinet for further deliberations. He said that all aspects were being considered before the new legislation particularly the suggestions from the elected representatives are being taken into consideration.