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Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
LHC halts auction of long-leased shops in Jaranwala
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday barred authorities from going ahead with the planned auction of dozens of commercial shops in Jaranwala after tenants filed a writ petition challenging the legality of the move. Justice Malik Javaid Iqbal Wains issued a stay order, suspending the auction scheduled for July 25, 2025, and sought replies from the concerned government departments. The petition was filed by 40 shopkeepers through Advocate Chaudhry Shoaib Saleem. The petitioners, many of whom have been operating businesses at the premises since before or shortly after the creation of Pakistan, argued that the auction violated their tenancy rights and existing agreements with the municipal authorities. According to the petition, some of the shops were constructed in 2005 by the tenants themselves under a public-private partnership, while others were built by the local administration and allotted to tenants through oral and subsequently written agreements. Ch Shoaib Saleem argued that they the petitioners entered into formal tenancy agreements with the municipal corporation in December 2023, in accordance with Punjab Local Government policies and a notification issued by the Secretary of Colonies on September 30, 2019. They added that all tenants were up to date with rent payments, which included a 10% annual increase as per the agreements. Despite this, the Deputy Commissioner Faisalabad issued a public auction notice covering these shops, prompting the tenants to approach the court. The petition contended that the auction notice contravened Section 94(7) of the Punjab Local Government Act, 2022, and infringed upon the petitioners' fundamental rights under Articles 4, 10-A, 14, and 18 of the Constitution. The petitioners also pointed out that substantial security deposits, around Rs 500,000 per shop, made in 2005 were still held by the government. The court stayed the auction proceedings and adjourned the case for further hearing. The petitioners have requested the court to declare the auction notice illegal and to restrain the government from taking any coercive action against them. Respondents in the petition include the Punjab Chief Secretary, Secretary Local Government, Secretary Colonies Department, Deputy Commissioner Faisalabad, and Assistant Commissioner Jaranwala. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
21-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Streetlight meters: Punjab seeks functionality verification survey
ISLAMABAD: The government of Punjab has requested a comprehensive survey to verify the functionality of existing streetlight meters and to ensure the installation of separate energy meters for all unmetered streetlight connections maintained by local governments. The province has also called for a special electricity tariff for streetlights, citing inflated billing practices by distribution companies (Discos). According to the Secretary for Local Governments, Punjab, there are currently 229 Local Governments providing municipal services across the province. Under Section 21(1)(s)(iii) of the Punjab Local Government Act, 2022, the responsibility for the installation and maintenance of street lighting lies with these Local Governments. Despite facing limited financial resources, Local Governments have been striving to maintain street lighting infrastructure. However, the rising cost of electricity—exacerbated by inflated bills—has made it increasingly difficult to sustain these essential services. A major contributing factor to these high bills is the prevalence of unmetered streetlight connections. Currently, Punjab has a total of 177,495 streetlights, of which 99,288 are metered while 78,207 remain unmetered. Due to the lack of proper metering, Discos often bill Local Governments based on average consumption or lump-sum estimates. This results in payments for electricity that is not actually consumed, placing a heavy financial burden on already stretched municipal budgets. Audit reports from the Municipal Corporations of Rawalpindi and Sialkot, presented before the Public Accounts Committee-III (PAC-III) of the Punjab Assembly, flagged significant overpayments. The audit cited unjustified payments of Rs. 69.048 million in Rawalpindi and Rs. 70.667 million in Sialkot for streetlight electricity bills. After reviewing the audit findings and the responses of the concerned departments, PAC-III issued the following directive to the Local Government and Community Development Department: 'The Committee directed the Administrative Department to prepare a comprehensive reference for submission to the Federal Government, emphasizing the rationalization of electricity tariffs, installation of separate meters, and exploration of alternate solutions.' In a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Power Division, the Secretary for Local Governments, Punjab, requested that in light of the PAC directions, necessary instructions be issued to all relevant Discos in Punjab to: (i) conduct a comprehensive survey to verify the functionality of all already-installed streetlight meters and ;(ii) expedite the installation of separate energy meters for all unmetered streetlight connections maintained by Local Governments. The letter also urges to take up the matter with the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) to introduce a special electricity tariff for streetlights, given that these services constitute a vital public utility. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
JI files petition for LG polls in Punjab
Mufti Muhammad Abdullah of the Jamaat-i-Islami said Ahmadis were stooges of the West and enemies of Pakistan. PHOTO: FILE Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan has filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC), seeking directions for the immediate conduct of local government elections in Punjab within 90 days. The petition, submitted by Zia Ud Din Ansari, Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore region, names the Federation of Pakistan, the government of Punjab, the Election Commission of Pakistan, the Provincial Election Commission of Punjab, the Ministry of Local Government, and the Chief Secretary Punjab as respondents. Ansari contended that the delay in holding local body polls is unconstitutional and violates fundamental rights under Article 140-A of the Constitution. He urged the court to declare this failure unlawful and direct the respondents to take immediate steps to schedule and conduct free, fair, and timely elections, in line with constitutional provisions and the devolution mandate under the Punjab Local Government Act. The petitioner further sought penalties against the responsible authorities for neglecting their constitutional duty. He argued that the non-conduct of local body elections undermines the spirit of the 18th Amendment, which decentralised governance by granting provinces the authority to organize local governments. The petition emphasised that delaying these elections weakens democracy, deprives citizens of their right to grassroots representation, and hinders effective governance. It asserted that the Punjab government's inaction violates principles of transparency, accountability, and participatory democracy guaranteed by the Constitution. Jamaat-e-Islami, known for its advocacy of democratic and constitutional rights, maintained that the prolonged delay in local government elections has created a "democratic deficit," negatively impacting governance, local development, and public accountability in Punjab.
