While formally announcing business plan of Governor House, Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar has said that Governor House’s lawn will be available for corporate sector at Rs1million for each event; any function can also be arranged from Rs500,000 in Darbar Hall; Rs50,000 will be charged for wedding photoshoots and Rs1 million for commercial photoshoots, while guided tours can be made at Governor House on Saturdays and Sundays.
Booking of any function can be done through Governor House’s website. “We will try to carry out Governor House expenditure through the business plan. Under the business plan, the political parties will not be allowed to organize their events in Governor House.”
Addressing a press conference regarding Business Plan at Governor House Lahore on Wednesday, Sarwar said “We are giving the business plan as per our promise and the business plan’s earning will be deposited in the account of Government of Pakistan.” The event will be booked on www.governorhouse.punjab.gov.pk and when anybody sends his request for an event on the website, the Governor House staff will contact that person to finalize the arrangements, however, the events’ payment will be made through bank account of the government and no one from Governor House is authorized to receive the payment in cash mode from the person or company holding the event.
To a question, Sarwar said the two-hour time will be given for wedding photoshoot and its charges will be Rs50,000 and Rs5 million will be charged on commercial video shooting in the pavilion of Governor House. On Saturdays and Sundays, groups of ten persons each can avail one-hour guided tour facility with Rs2,000 charges per person, while such charges will be Rs6,000 per person for foreigners and they will also be served with tea and coffee. Welfare organisations will be given 50 percent discount on their programmes.
To another question, Sarwar said conferences like ulema conference can be allowed under the business plan, but the political parties will not be allowed to organize party conventions, public meetings or any other activity in any part/portion of the Governor House including its lawn.
There are too many gossips about Governor House’s expenditures, and let me tell you that monthly expense of Governor House other than staff salaries is Rs1 million per month and we are gradually reducing this figure. He said a canteen is being constructed where eatables will be available for general visitors of Governor House on Saturdays and Sundays. We will try to ensure provision of all facilities including security to the people visiting Governor House. Since inception of PTI government, 400,000 persons have visited Governor House, while number of people coming for Aftar parties during Ramazanul Mubarak is more than 200,000.