SC seeks Royal Palm Golf Club feasibility report

The dispute revolves around lease of 141 acres of railway land to M/s Mainland Husnain Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has directed the Pakistan Railways Royal Palm Golf and Country Club consultant to submit the club's feasibility report within a month.

The dispute revolves around the lease of 141 acres of railway land to Messrs Mainland Husnain Pakistan Limited by the Pakistan Railways allegedly in a non-transparent manner and flagrant violation of settled principles to develop the Rs50 billion Royal Palm Golf and Country Club.

On Wednesday, a three-member special implementation bench of the apex court headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial heard the case of Royal Palm Golf and Country Club Lahore.

Barrister Syed Ali Zafar appeared on behalf of Mainland Husnain Pakistan Limited and informed the court that due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis, Pakistan Railways (PR) had shut down the Royal Palm Golf and Country Club altogether.

Supreme Court seeks Royal Palm Golf club report in 15 days

Upon the court's enquiry, the PR submitted a report of its consultant in which various business proposals relating to the project had been detailed.

One of the suggestions was to lease the project with the permission to build apartments on the railway land.

Barrister Syed Ali Zafar submitted that he had not received the report compiled by the consultants of PR and that he had various objections to the report.

He maintained the rebidding had to be done by the PR strictly in accordance with laws and the judgments of the Supreme Court including the judgment passed in this case.

He noted the PR could not be allowed to convert a green space into a concrete block.

The apex court observed that the projects for future bidding should be kept in consideration for public purpose only and allowed all the parties to file replies to the consultants' report.

The court also directed the PR to complete the feasibility report and file it within a month.

It further ordered that the club's feasibility report should be in line with the court's orders.

The audit firm was also asked to complete the audit of the club for the remaining years so that further proceedings could take place.

The court adjourned the hearing of the case for a month.