Islamabad’s Shaheed-i-Millat Secretariat May Be Converted into Five-Star Hotel

ISLAMABAD: The federal government is considering converting Islamabad’s Shaheed-i-Millat Secretariat into a luxury five-star hotel to expand the capital’s high-end accommodation capacity ahead of major international events, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit scheduled for October 2027.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a high-level committee to examine the feasibility of the proposal. According to Dawn, the committee includes the federal ministers for interior, housing and finance, along with senior government officials. It will assess the proposal’s technical, financial, legal and administrative aspects before submitting its recommendations to the federal cabinet.

The proposal has been put forward in view of the expected arrival of a large number of foreign dignitaries for the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting. Officials expect around 35 VVIPs and more than 3,000 foreign guests, including members of accompanying delegations, to visit Islamabad for the summit.

Proposed conversion into a luxury hotel

Under the preliminary proposal, the existing Shaheed-i-Millat Secretariat building could be converted into a modern five-star hotel rather than being demolished and replaced with a new structure.

Initial assessments suggest that parts of the building from the third to the 16th floor could be utilised for hotel accommodation. The proposed plan could provide around 128 guest rooms and 64 luxury suites.

The proposal also includes high-end hospitality facilities such as a rooftop restaurant and penthouse accommodation on the upper floors.

The ground floor already has facilities including a VIP entrance, security screening area, bell desk, reception and waiting areas. A mezzanine floor covering around 15,170 square feet could also be utilised for hotel support and service functions.

The proposal to convert the building into a hotel was reportedly presented to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif by former Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman Sohail Ashraf. Following the proposal, the prime minister constituted the high-level committee to examine its feasibility.

Background of Shaheed-i-Millat Secretariat

The Shaheed-i-Millat Secretariat is located on Plot No. 4 in Sector F-6/1 of Islamabad, at a central location between Jinnah Avenue, Blue Area and Nazimuddin Road. Its location also provides relatively easy access to the Red Zone and other important government installations.

According to official records, the building stands on a plot measuring approximately 4,411 square yards. The land was allotted to the House Building Finance Corporation in 1975.

The building has a total covered area of approximately 251,774 square feet, including a basement and multiple entrances and exits.

Officials have also examined the structural condition of the building as part of the proposed conversion. The building has experienced a fire incident in the past, but a senior Housing Ministry official has stated that it is structurally sound and suitable for an appropriate use.

Islamabad faces shortage of high-end hotel rooms

The proposal comes as Islamabad prepares for a number of major international events that are expected to increase demand for high-quality accommodation.

Officials estimate that the capital could require around 4,000 international-standard hotel rooms because of the SCO summit, the South Asian Games, meetings of the International Olympic Committee and other international events.

The government and CDA are therefore examining options to increase the city’s hotel capacity, including construction of new hotels and the possible conversion of suitable existing structures.

The proposed conversion of the Shaheed-i-Millat Secretariat, however, has not yet received final approval. The committee constituted by the prime minister will examine the project’s feasibility, estimated cost, legal and structural requirements and possible operational model before submitting its recommendations. The federal government will take a final decision after reviewing the committee’s report.