ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to build a new Convention Centre in Islamabad for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in 2027, according to a newspaper report.
A press release issued by the Interior Ministry said that, following the prime minister’s directions, consultations were held to plan the construction of another Convention Centre before the SCO Summit. The new facility will be built next to the existing Jinnah Convention Centre.
The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi at the CDA Headquarters. According to the press release, the meeting lasted three hours and was attended by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Interior Secretary Mohammad Khurram Agha, CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa, and officials from the district administration.
The interior minister said the new Convention Centre would feature a large convention hall, spacious meeting rooms, and conference spaces built according to international standards and modern requirements. He stressed that top local and international architects would be engaged for the project’s design.
ALSO READ | Lahore launches AI-based crime prediction system under PSCA
According to a newspaper report, Minister Naqvi said the completion of this project would enable Pakistan to host major international conferences in the future.
It may be recalled that a few years ago, the government had planned to privatise the Jinnah Convention Centre, which covers 7.59 acres, including 4.13 acres of built-up area. However, it was later realised that the existing facility was inadequate for hosting large-scale international events, prompting the need for a new one.
During the same meeting, the progress on the construction of new police stations in Islamabad was also reviewed. The interior minister gave a 45-day deadline to complete work on six police stations and directed officials to prepare a plan for the commercialisation of Islamabad Expressway.
ALSO READ | Rawalpindi’s century-old land office reopens with one-window system
CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa informed the meeting that tenders for 10 additional police stations had been issued. He also briefed that the construction of the new Parliament Lodges block would be completed within the scheduled timeframe.
It was further highlighted that all piles of the T-Chowk Flyover Project have been completed, and the foundation stone of Shaheen Chowk will soon be laid. Meanwhile, the restoration work on the R-Block building of the Pak Secretariat is in its final stages.
