For the first time in more than a century, the management of the Lahore Gymkhana Club might actually have to pay rent for the 117 acres that the colonial era golf club is housed on.
It is not exactly a secret that Gymkhana basically pays nothing even though it operates on land owned by the Punjab government and given to them through a lease. The understanding has always been that since Gymkhana is a grand old institution, the free use of public land is essentially a privilege that comes with the legacy.Â
But this opinion seems to have waned over time, especially since over the years the club has become increasingly more exclusive. New memberships are rarely given out and even old political families have had a hard time getting second-sons, grandsons and son-in-laws trouble getting in. Perhaps that is why in recent times the club has seen some of its influence falter. Nothing is more evident of that than a new committee of the Punjab Assembly that has been constituted to rethink the relationship between the provincial government and the club. The only question is, will they be able to do anything about it? The content in this publication is expensive to produce. But unlike other journalistic outfits, business publications have to cover the very organizations that directly give them advertisements. Hence, this large source of revenue, which is the lifeblood of other media houses, is severely compromised on account of Profit’s no-compromise policy when it comes to our reporting. No wonder, Profit has lost multiple ad deals, worth tens of millions of rupees, due to stories that held big businesses to account. Hence, for our work to continue unfettered, it must be supported by discerning readers who know the value of quality business journalism, not just for the economy but for the society as a whole.To read the full article, subscribe and support independent business journalism in Pakistan
