Naqvi orders early completion of Islamabad hotels before SCO Summit
Hotel owners and authorities must resolve issues quickly, and a planned international-standard hotel and mall are part of the capital's preparations.
Authorities in Islamabad must speed up construction of all unfinished hotels before the SCO Summit, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi directed on Tuesday, the state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
Naqvi chaired a meeting in the capital to review measures for improving Islamabad's hospitality sector ahead of the summit.
He told the authorities concerned to stay in constant contact with hotel owners and resolve their problems promptly, he said.
Special measures should be taken to renovate existing hotels and raise their overall standards, Naqvi said.
The meeting was briefed on a project to transform One Constitution Avenue into an internationally standard hotel.
It was also decided that an international-standard mall would be developed in the building next to One Constitution Avenue.
Naqvi said a comprehensive plan for the One Constitution Avenue project is being prepared in consultation with an international hotel chain.
He said special training courses would be launched with relevant training institutions to meet the needs of the hospitality sector.
Naqvi stressed that Islamabad must be fully prepared, with all arrangements made to welcome distinguished guests in a befitting manner.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a regional bloc whose members include China, Russia, India and Pakistan, and it holds an annual summit of its leaders.
Hosting a summit requires enough accommodation for visiting delegations, which is why officials are focusing on renovating existing hotels and building new ones.
