PHA eyes fee hikes to boost revenue

The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) of Faisalabad has proposed a business plan to boost its revenue after repeated refusal of the Punjab housing department to offer a bailout package.

According to PHA officials, the authority relies on government grant and income from outdoor advertising. However, the funds from both the sources are insufficient to meet the expenditure of the organisation, hindering its functions and development plans.

The PHA's annual expenditure is Rs900 million, including Rs750 mullion for salaries, while it receives Rs250 million from the government budget and collects advertisement fee of Rs230 million.

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Thus the organisation faces an annual budget deficit of Rs380 million.

PHA Director General Zameer Hussain said the authority would explore options to scale up its revenue through auction of rights for installation of digital streamers on roads, moppy signs at crossings, and fascia signs on flyovers ,underpasses and pedestrian bridges.

He said reduction in the fee exemption limit from 50 to 20 square feet for shopkeepers.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2023.