Naqvi orders One Constitution Avenue hotel plan, work from Jan 1
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has ordered a comprehensive plan to turn One Constitution Avenue into an international-standard hotel, with construction to start on January 1. He also told officials to finish Islamabad's unfinished hotels before the SCO Summit.
- Construction at One Constitution Avenue is to start on January 1 without fail.
- The plan is to be prepared in consultation with international hotel chains.
- A mall of international standard will be built in the adjacent building.
- Hotels under construction in Islamabad must be completed ahead of the SCO Summit.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday directed the authorities concerned to speed up work on Islamabad's hospitality sector ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan and Express News.
Mr Naqvi chaired a meeting in Islamabad that reviewed steps to improve the city's hospitality sector. The Chief Commissioner Islamabad, the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad and other relevant officials attended.
The meeting was briefed on a plan to convert One Constitution Avenue into an international-standard hotel. Express News reported that it was also decided to build an international-standard mall in the building next to it.
Mr Naqvi ordered that a comprehensive plan for One Constitution Avenue be prepared in consultation with international hotel chains. He also ordered that construction on the project start from January 1 without fail.
On the wider sector, he directed that hotels under construction in Islamabad be completed on time and that existing hotels be renovated and upgraded to international standards. He also ordered that contact with hotel owners be maintained and their problems be resolved promptly, and that local hotels be linked with international hotel chains.
Express News reported that Mr Naqvi also ordered special courses to be arranged with relevant training institutes, so that trained manpower is available before new hotels begin operating.
The meeting also reviewed progress on renovating the convention centre and building a new hall. Mr Naqvi said, according to Express News, in Urdu: "Islamabad has to be fully prepared for the SCO Summit." This is a translation of his words.
Background
khabr.pk reported on 5 November that Mr Naqvi said the government had legally taken possession of One Constitution Avenue and planned to turn it into a five-star hotel in the coming months. The same day, the federal cabinet approved a joint investigation team report that found irregularities in the project's bidding and lease.
Why it matters for Pakistan
The plan concerns a large public building in Islamabad, whose use after the cabinet approved the investigation report is now being decided. Hotel owners in the capital are affected by the order to renovate existing hotels and link them with international chains. The instruction to arrange training courses concerns people seeking work in the hospitality sector once new hotels open.
