Does Lahore Gymkhana really pay Rs417/month for 1,133 kanals state land?

LAHORE: A lawmaker from Punjab’s ruling party has revealed that the esteemed Lahore Gymkhana, located on prime public land on Upper Mall in Lahore, pays only Rs417 per month in rent for over 1,000 kanals of state land. This disclosure stunned the Punjab Assembly, prompting opposition members to demand immediate action and denounce the apparent favoritism toward the elite.

Following an adjournment motion, the assembly speaker instructed the finance minister to verify the claim’s accuracy. According to Geo News, the lease agreement was signed in 1996 between Lahore’s deputy commissioner (on behalf of the Punjab government) and the secretary of Lahore Gymkhana Club. It leased over 1,000 kanals of public land for 50 years at an annual rent of Rs5,000, equivalent to Rs417 per month.

The agreement states, “The lessee will pay the rent at a token rate of Rs5,000 per annum,” and requires the lessee to pay all applicable taxes for the land. It also mandates that the lessee establish a Gymkhana Club on the land to provide public facilities. Effective from 2000, the lease remains valid until 2050.

This fact was confirmed by a notice from the office of the additional deputy commissioner to the Club on August 26, 2020, regarding unpaid rent since 2011, reiterating the lease terms for an area of 1,133 kanals, one marla, and 80 square feet at an annual rent of Rs5,000 until 2050.