LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly held a special public committee hearing today to examine the lease terms of the historic Gymkhana Club, which occupies 117 acres of prime land in central Lahore. The hearing was part of a new push for transparency under revised assembly procedures, allowing for open hearings on matters of public interest.
The committee, formed on 9 September 2024 and chaired by MPA Sami Ullah Khan (PP-145), was tasked with investigating concerns about the club’s lease. A key issue raised was the shockingly low annual rent of Rs. 5,000, a figure many assembly members argued is vastly under the current market value. The rent was initially set at Rs. 1,600 in the early 1900s, and the current estimated value of the land is believed to be between Rs. 60 to 70 billion.
In addition to the 117-acre property, the club also occupies an additional three acres of agricultural land within Lawrence Gardens, which had previously not been accounted for in the lease agreements. Committee members also highlighted unapproved construction activities on the state land and questioned the club’s high membership fees and revenue generation, especially in light of its minimal rent payments to the state.
It was revealed that no official audit has ever been conducted on the Gymkhana Club’s properties or finances, and the club has reportedly ignored requests for information from the Public Accounts Committee. The committee has now instructed government departments to submit detailed responses, with the Law Department asked to review all lease agreements for potential financial recovery.
Representatives from the Gymkhana Club are expected to be called to the next hearing as the Punjab Assembly seeks to reassess the rent based on the true market value of the land.
