RAWALPINDI: The Old Grant leaseholders in the civic limits of Rawalpindi Cantonment Board have sought several relaxations in the 2007 lease policy.
The committee comprising the representatives of Old Grant leaseholders, elected members of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board, and its officials have prepared proposed changes to the policy to make it acceptable to the Old Grant leaseholders.
As per the details, the proposed changes include a waiver of the surcharge on delay in conversion from Old Grant leases into regular ones, a reduction of lease charges (premium) to a minimum level, and the abolition of extra charges on a change of purpose of the lease from residential to commercial.
The penalty and premium money for the conversion of the Old Grant lease into a regular one is too high, which is why Old Grant leaseholders have been opposing the lease policy 2007 since its inception.
Furthermore, the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board is also charging commercial property tax for commercial electricity, water, and gas connections.
The proposed changes also include lifting the bar on the sale of the properties held under Old Grant, as the leaseholders are absolute owners of the superstructures on the leased land.
Source: DAWN
