Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) contemplates to undertake a number of measures, including construction of shopping plazas by demolishing the old heritage buildings like Dayal Singh Mansion in Lahore.
An indication to this effect was given by ETPB Vice-Chairman Riffat Peerzada, in his meeting with the tenants of the Dayal Singh Mansion here on Saturday.
Peerzada told the tenants that the two shopping plazas of the Board in Islamabad are yielding more resources than the Board's 24,000 Waqf properties across the country.
He said the Board has served them notices for increasing the rent and may go ahead with the plan to demolish the buildings in due course of time for construction of shopping plazas.
The ETPB vice chairman told the tenants, including Shireen Masood, Muhammad Afzal Chaudhry of Shezan Restaurant, Irfan Saeed and others that the rules provide the rebate of two months rent to the tenant for carrying out repairs and rehabilitation work.
Cancellation of tenancy rights of Shezan Restaurant with effect from February 14, 2006, when it was put on fire by the rioters protesting against the publication of blasphemous caricatures by Western countries newspapers figured quite prominently during the deliberations.
The tenants strongly opposed any move to demolish heritage buildings like Dayal Singh Mansion and Ganga Ram Mansion, and urged the Board high-ups to realise their responsibility and obligations towards maintenance and facilities in the ETPB buildings.