RAWALPINDI:
In a rare case of a federal institution defaulting on provincial government dues, the District Rent Assessment Committee (DRAC) and the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) have determined that the Islamabad Electricity Supply Company (IESCO) owes Rs 1 billion in unpaid rent.
Following instructions from the Administrator and Rawalpindi Commissioner, IESCO was asked to pay the outstanding amount within 15 days for continuous use of 11 commercial properties owned by MCR in Rawalpindi for the last 65 years.
According to officials, the properties have been under the use of IESCO since January 1, 1961, without any agreement or payment of rent.
A joint rental assessment by DRAC and MCR calculated arrears from January 1961 to November 2025, applying a rate of Rs 2.5 per sq ft with an annual increase of 10 per cent.
A letter sent by MCR Administrator and Rawalpindi Engineer Commissioner Aamir Khattak to IESCO CEO stated that the utility must deposit Rs 1 billion as outstanding rent in the municipal fund within 15 days.
The properties include offices, flats and a petrol pump located at Rehmanabad SDO Construction Camp, Asghar Mall complaint office, Chandni Chowk Ghazni Road Safdarabad SDO, Ganj Mandi City Sub-Division Complaint Office and Chowk Committee Sub-Division Office.
MCR CEO Imran Ali said the corporation would not only recover the arrears but also sign a new rental agreement with IESCO to ensure regular monthly rental payments.
He added that clear instructions had been received from the Punjab government and a formal recovery process had been initiated under the supervision of the Rawalpindi commissioner.
