The Hyderabad Club, an exclusive community club known for its dining halls, walking track, swimming pool, gym, and other sports facilities, has been prohibited from hosting wedding ceremonies, festivals, and similar events.
The Sindh High Court's Hyderabad circuit bench also directed the club, which operates under the Sindh Sports Board, to provide free access to girls' schools and colleges by organising their activities in a staggered manner to accommodate the club's capacity.
The order from SHC states, "Events will be devised to ensure that girls' colleges and schools are provided with free access to use the club on a rotational basis."
During the hearing, the bench also addressed the issue of a 100 per cent increase in the club's membership fee, effective from February 1.
Sindh Secretary Sports, Hafiz Abdul Hadi Billo, who attended the hearing, assured the court that the fee would be revised.
However, it was revealed that the club has 4,567 members, of which only 2,500 regularly pay the monthly fee. The defaulting members have accumulated outstanding dues amounting to Rs160 million, according to a report submitted by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Hyderabad Fuad Ghaffar Soomro.
The DC recommended implementing a membership cap. Additionally, the club features two dining halls that can accommodate 300 people, as well as separate party halls with a 50-person capacity each. There are also nine residential suites available for members and guests, along with a small reading corner.
"The land was granted by the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC) on the condition that it would be used solely for the promotion of sports and games, with a special emphasis on engaging female students and sportswomen," revealed the DC before the bench.
He added that the Sports Board later decided to offer limited memberships to generate revenue. Initially, it was planned for sports players to utilise the facility in the morning, while members would have access in the evening.
"Until 2008, this arrangement was in practice, and sports players, especially female students, were able to use the premises free of charge. Unfortunately, they are now denied the access; thus undermining the original purpose of establishing the sports complex," stated the DC.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 3rd, 2023.
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