Due to nonpayment of property tax, the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department (E&T) sealed the Lahore Development Authority’s (LDA) historic project, Global Village (previously known as Arena). But after both organizations’ top management intervened, the building was eventually opened.The excise department’s action came just one day after the LDA team, continuing their campaign against commercial fee defaulters, had shut the department’s regional headquarters in Faisal Town three days prior.
The Excise and Taxation Department office was one of the properties in Faisal Town and Garden Town that were sealed as a result of the LDA’s operation, which was headed by the appropriate director. The News was informed by Excise Director General Faisal Fareed that he was not aware of this operation and that there was no disagreement between the two government agencies. He said he was unaware that LDA owned the Global Village (Arena) and speculated that lower-level employees might have sealed the area without authorization from a higher authority. He continued by saying that he spoke with the LDA DG, who was also in the dark about the steps his staff had done, after the LDA closed the excise office.
In response to a question about using the residential property for commercial purposes, Fareed said that the Excise Department does not classify what it calls “Commercial Activities” because it provides services to the general public. He also pointed out that the Excise Department has long converted private residential buildings into offices for various government departments in Lahore and other cities. Finally, LDA DG Tahir Farooq confirmed to The News that the building was sealed by the Excise Department and that the LDA paid Rs2.5 million in property tax to have it de-sealed. He clarified that the property owner, from whom the Excise Department had rented the building, should be responsible for paying the property tax. Finally, he promised that the recovery process would be observed.
