The Islamabad Club that stretches over 352 acres of land leased to it by the government over half a century ago pays only Rs3 per acre (an acre is equal to 8 kanal) as rent.
The lease agreement signed between the club administration and the government 53 years ago was supposed to be renewed after 10 years, but that never happened, a report in Daily Jang said.
These details were revealed after a citizen moved the Pakistan Information Commission seeking details about the club.
The application filed under the Right to Information Act by a citizen sought information on the finances of the club, its properties, members among other things. At this, the club administration said that it was not bound to provide the required information to the applicant.
The matter was then taken to the Pakistan Information Commission that asked the club to provide the said information as it was built on land leased by the government.
Islamabad Club administrator Ahmad Nawaz Shukhera told the PIC that the club was not run by the taxpayers’ money as it sustains itself through membership fees.
He also said that the club was not bound to provide the required information because the application was not a member of the club.
When asked about the government funding, Sukhera said the club was built on land leased by the Capital Development Authority and it pays an annual rent of Rs14,700 for the 352-acre piece of land. The rent disclosed by the administration means that the club pays merely Rs14,700 for the massive tract of land i.e. Rs3 per acre.
According to the website of the Islamabad Club, it was established in the year 1967 to provide recreational and sports facilities to the government servants, diplomats and other inhabitants of Islamabad.
It was initially registered as a limited company, titled “The Islamabad Club” under the Companies Act of 1913. “In 1978, through the Presidential Ordinance No. XXXIII of 17th July 1978, the Club ownership was resumed by the Government of Pakistan and the Company was dissolved. Since then, Club is operating under the said Ordinance (Club Ordinance),” the website adds.
In Sept 2019, Pakistan Today reported that the club was found involved in “irregularities such as illegal appointments, illegal investments, operating of illegal bank accounts, illegal membership and the construction of buildings without government approval”.
