Rawalpindi Citizens Reject 80% Hike in Old Grant Lease Rates

Rawalpindi Citizens Protest Against 80% Increase in Property Rates

In a significant show of protest, the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board Citizen Action Committee has rejected a recent notification that aligns lease rates for existing grant properties with the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) updated rates, resulting in an 80% rise. According to committee members, the substantial increase will financially burden many people who are already struggling to comply with the current leasing regulation.

The Citizen Action Committee, along with local leaders, made a public statement on Sunday demanding the federal government to reverse this decision. The committee warned that if not withdrawn, the higher charges would make it nearly impossible for citizens to renew or convert their old grant properties to ordinary leases. “These holdings were awarded by British officials decades ago and passed down through generations. Most holders cannot afford the hike,” stated Mohammad Farooq Chaudhry, Chairman of the Citizen Action Committee. He was joined by Sheikh Mohammad Hafeez, President of the Central Association of Traders, and General Secretary Zafar Qadri, who both expressed their concerns in a joint statement.

In Pakistan, old grant properties are properties that were awarded to local inhabitants by the British colonial authority long before the country gained independence in 1947. These properties are frequently inherited, and many remain in poor condition due to the low income generated by them. According to local politicians, the owners of these properties continue to pay property taxes while receiving little financial gain from them.

“The updated leasing policy, which was created in November 2023, was expected to be valid for five years. However, the FBR’s recent rate hike has put the policy under financial hardship,” the statement noted. The Citizen Action Committee underlined that these high prices contravene the aim of the lease program, which should ideally be affordable to households. Committee members noted that many of these properties, due to their age and condition, do not generate significant revenue, leaving property owners with inadequate resources to cover the increased lease payments.

Cantonment board citizens stressed the significance of reasonable leasing rates in facilitating the transfer of these ancestral lands through a formal, regular lease framework. Representatives urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to intervene and lower interest rates to reflect citizens’ economic circumstances.

“The drastic increase has created substantial difficulties for citizens,” the committee leaders continued, saying that the high rates have had an immediate and negative impact on the community. “We hope the federal government will take prompt action to address this issue, allowing people to regularize their properties at affordable rates.”

The committee’s declaration mirrors broader dissatisfaction in the Rawalpindi Cantonment community, where many property owners suffer similar issues. These residents believe that cheap rates are required not only for property compliance, but also to ensure that the properties are viable assets for future generations.

Local officials and locals alike are hoping that government engagement would result in a fair conclusion, supporting the regularization of ancient grant properties without putting undue financial strain on long-term residents.