Mirpur: Commissioner Mirpur Division Raja Tahir Mumtaz Khan has directed the management of the under-construction Pearl Continental Hotel on the banks of Mangla Lake to provide a clear time frame for completing and making the hotel operational, stressing its critical importance for international industrial, commercial, tourism, and sports activities in Mirpur.
An important meeting regarding the delayed PC Hotel project was held under the chairmanship of the Commissioner. The meeting was attended by Director Admin Mirpur Development Authority Kaleem Ahmed Jarral, Chief Executive Officer Hashoo Hospitality Mr Beston Plank, and Vice President Mr Asif Raza. The participants reviewed the reasons behind the delay in completing the project and discussed measures to ensure its early completion.
During the briefing, hotel management informed the meeting that construction work had been severely affected during the Covid-19 pandemic, along with financial constraints. It was stated that an investment of approximately Rs3 billion had been made in the project and nearly 90 percent of construction work had been completed. However, due to certain administrative, technical, and financial hurdles, the project could not be completed within the stipulated time. The management assured that all possible efforts were being made to remove these obstacles and complete the project at the earliest.
Commissioner Raja Tahir Mumtaz Khan reminded the hotel management that the Azad Kashmir government had allocated highly valuable lakeside land worth billions of rupees to the PC Hotel with the expectation that an international-standard hotel would be made functional to support the Mirpur International Airport, international cricket matches, tourism activities at Mangla Lake, and broader industrial and commercial growth. He said that due to the delay, several international-level initiatives of the government remained pending, which was unacceptable.
He warned that the hotel management must provide a clear timeline and detailed plan immediately, adding that if the hotel was not made functional within the given time frame, alternative options would be considered. He noted that overseas Kashmiris and residents of Mirpur had shown strong interest in investing in an international-standard five-star hotel, and it was on their demand that the Government of Pakistan had approved the Mirpur International Airport. Despite the presence of an international cricket stadium, the lack of suitable accommodation for international players had left the facility underutilised.
The Commissioner further said that Mangla Lake, with its vast and clear water resources, had the potential to become a hub for international water sports and tourism, attracting massive investment from overseas Pakistanis, Kashmiris, and international investors. He added that delays in the PC Hotel project had caused frustration among local residents and overseas Kashmiris, who were questioning why such a major project had not been completed despite significant investment and government support.
He expressed hope that with the construction of the Mirpur International Airport, economic, tourism, and commercial activities in the city would gain momentum. He said that the PC Hotel and the international airport, once completed, could jointly transform Mirpur into an attractive centre for tourism, business, and recreation. The Commissioner reiterated that failure to provide a clear plan and timeline would compel the administration to move towards alternative arrangements.
