Major changes to ETPB lands’ lease, rent policy approved

ISLAMABAD: Major amendments have been made in the policy of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) regarding lease and rent of agricultural and urban lands.

With the approval of Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain, separate Statutory Regulatory Orders (SROs) of amendments have been issued in the Agricultural Scheme 1975 and Urban Scheme 1977.

Ministry of Religious Affairs Section Officer Tariq Mahmood wrote a letter to the ETPB chairman regarding the changes. The amendments became effective immediately. Under the new policy of the Urban Scheme, the possession of ETPB land could be regularised, and for the purpose, the benchmark had been changed from 1995 to 2010, i.e. the occupant would be declared a tenant after collection of rent for 14 years. Thus the Board would start collecting rent, and it would also get 14 years’ arrears.

Under the new amendment, in the light of the Supreme Court decision, a ban had been imposed on selling the ETPB land to anyone or transferring it in anyone’s name. This land would remain the property of the federal government only. The department would lease out, but the title would not be transferred. The rent rate of the board’s civic buildings has also been increased.

The rent of the ground floor of Category A buildings has been increased to Rs16 per square foot, first floor to Rs14, second floor to Rs10, other floors to Rs4 and basement to Rs6.

The rent of Category B building has been fixed at Rs13 per square foot for the ground floor, Rs9 for the first floor, Rs5 for the second floor and Rs3 for other floors. The increase in the rent rate will increase the board’s revenue.

The schedule for approving expenditures on maintenance of buildings and places of worship has also been changed.

An important change has been made under the agriculture scheme, that the ETPB agricultural land could now be leased for eight years, instead of three years.

The Board has about one lakh acres of land in the country, out of which 7,000 acres are barren, which can now be developed.

After the amendment, the agricultural land that has come under the municipal limits will be allowed to be developed for commercial activities. This will also increase Board’s revenue. A committee has been formed to make the process of leasing agricultural land transparent. Earlier, there was a one-man show. According to sources, the draft of the new amendment was prepared by former Director Legal Shahid Bashir. The ETPB meeting, chaired by Chairman Dr Attaur Rehman, had approved the amendments and sent the draft to the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The Ministry of Religious Affairs got it vetted from the Ministry of Law and Justice, after which Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Silk Hussain approved the amendments.