Rawalpindi:
The High Court of Lahore granted Commissioner Rawalpindi Aamir Khattak a final extension of 10 days to comply with an order from the previous court suspending the high increase in the rate of evaluation of the goods set by the sub-commissioner of union councils in Rawalpindi, including historical zones like Kotha Kalan I and II.
In an important decision, judge Jawad Hassan ordered that rates, which had increased up to 5,000%, be reddeterous within 10 days. The non-compliance will result in the legal proceedings against the assistant commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema.
The case was filed by the senior PML-N Chaudhry Asif Ali, who argued that for more than 50 years, the property assessment rates in the region had increased only by 10 to 15% per year.
However, in 2024, the assistant commissioner increased commercial property rates by an unprecedented 3,000 to 5,000%, and residential property rates of 500 to 3,000%, which led to the end of real estate transactions in these regions in the past two years.
The situation has worsened when a new increase of 1,000 to 3,000% was imposed from July 1, 2025, which seriously had an impact on the local real estate market.
The LHC had previously asked officials to withdraw the inflated rates and consult the stakeholders to determine new fair assessments. However, the Commissioner and DC did not comply with this order, which prompted the court to issue a final warning.
The court has now stressed that rates must be revised and that a report on the issue must be submitted within 10 days. If the civil servants do not act, the court warned that it would initiate outrage procedures.
