Tenants across Pakistan have launched a nationwide agitation against the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) over sharp rent hikes for properties managed by the trust. The protests are organized by the Evacuee Trust Action Committee, which advocates for the welfare of evacuees and their descendants, who were displaced during the 1947 Partition of British India.
The protests target the Evacuee Trust Amendment Ordinance of 2006. This law mandates an 8% annual rent increase. It also gives ETPB officials the authority to raise rents further, based on local market rates. Tenant representatives from various cities argue that the rent hikes are unjustified and arbitrary.
In this regard, AKTI- a major business association- strongly condemned the ordinance as biased and against tenants in a meeting held on Monday. The chairman of AKTI, Atiq Mir, called upon the Chief Justice of Pakistan to intervene. He drew attention to the fact that this new policy puts an unbearable financial burden on tenants. And added that such rent hikes are based on a very controversial Supreme Court decision. That means the discretion lies with the ETPB officials to be able to decide on rents for different areas.
Mir further added that while the rents had gone up by 30% following an earlier amendment to the law. There was also an added charge to tenants equivalent to 60 months of rent. This has already burdened many tenants. He warned that with continued rent hikes, tenants would strain to pay and may even stop paying. He predicted that corruption in the department would increase since a few officials held the power to raise rents.
Mir contended that the new rent system is discriminatory as it has applied a uniform rate of rent to all tenants irrespective of the size of the business or their financial position. He warned that unless things started improving. The tenants would intensify their protests and stage a sit-in at Numaish and the ETPB office.
The meeting further called upon the various political parties to support the cause of the tenants. In this connection, it is stated that such protests in Pakistan did prevent the enforcement of this very controversial ordinance previously.
These protests reflect a growing frustration among tenants. And the determination to have their voices heard as they push for change.
ANI
