PM Orders Govt Buildings’ Conversion into Hotels ahead of SCO 2027
Reports claim the government is considering converting selected federal buildings, including Shaheed-e-Millat Secretariat, into hotel accommodation as Islamabad prepares to host the SCO Council of Heads of State Summit in 2027; however, specific room figures and conversion plans await independent official confirmation.
ISLAMABAD: The federal government is reportedly examining proposals to convert selected government buildings in Islamabad into hotel accommodation as preparations accelerate for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State Summit scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan in 2027.
Proposals for Government Buildings
A social-media report circulating on Monday claimed that the initiative follows directions from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and that a three-member ministerial committee has been constituted to examine the feasibility of converting government properties into hotels.
Among the buildings reportedly being considered is the Shaheed-e-Millat Secretariat on Jinnah Avenue, which houses several federal government offices. The report claims that the building could be transformed into a five-star hotel containing 128 rooms and 64 luxury suites.
It further claims that Islamabad may require approximately 4,400 additional hotel rooms to accommodate foreign delegations and other visitors expected for the SCO summit.
Islamabad Tribune could not independently verify these specific figures or locate, at the time of publication, an official government notification confirming the proposed conversion of Shaheed-e-Millat Secretariat into a hotel.
The details should therefore be treated as reported proposals rather than a final government decision.
Pakistan to Host SCO Summit in 2027
What is officially confirmed is that Pakistan will assume the rotational chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026–27 and will host the organisation’s Heads of State Summit in Islamabad in 2027.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has publicly confirmed the upcoming chairmanship and summit.
Preparations Underway for Summit
Preparations are already under way. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar chaired the fourth meeting of the SCO Follow-up Committee on July 6, where officials specifically reviewed venue, accommodation, security, finance, media management, transport and logistics arrangements for visiting delegations.
Dar directed the relevant subcommittees to expedite their work.
New Convention Centre Planned
Islamabad is simultaneously developing major infrastructure for the summit. The Capital Development Authority has approved a Rs19.3 billion New Islamabad Convention Centre, which authorities have identified as the venue for the SCO Summit 2027.
The project was given an 18-month completion timeline and is intended to provide the capital with a modern facility for major international conferences and events.
The reported proposal to repurpose government buildings, if officially approved, would therefore form part of a considerably wider effort to expand Islamabad’s capacity to host heads of state, diplomatic delegations, officials, security personnel and other participants during one of the capital’s largest upcoming international events.
