PM Imran Khan approves adaptive usage of PM House, 13 other state-owned buildings

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has written letters to all governors, chief ministers and federal Ministers under his own signatures for adaptive re-use of public buildings with heritage value, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

According to a statement released from PM Office, the PM has stated in these letters that Pakistan is facing a huge economic crisis so the ruling elite cannot afford the ostentatious life style which it was maintaining in the past.

The letter states that PM has himself shown the way by choosing to live in a modest house voluntarily, instead of residing in the palatial 1100 kanals Prime Minister’s House.

“He also personally believes that public buildings presently under use as Governor’s House, Chief Ministers House, etc can be put to a more productive use by allowing access of the public to these buildings and has advised all concerned public office holders to take action on future use of these buildings already approved by him on the recommendations of a Committee of experts on priority basis as he would be monitoring the progress himself through the National History & Literary Heritage Division,” reads the letter written by PM.

The letter states that the PM has approved the following adaptive re-use of these public buildings:

 Serial Number: Name of the building: future adaptive reuse action: timeline

1. Prime Minister’s House, Islamabad Approximately 1000 kanals of PM House and President House: Institute of Higher Learning/ Centre of excellence. Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training/HEC: 3 to 5 years
2. Government House (Kashmir Point Murree) Boutique Hotel Government of the Punjab through lease agreement after observing codal formalities: 45 days
3. Punjab House (Pindi Point, Murree) Tourist Motel/ Tourist Complex Government of the Punjab through lease agreement after observing codal formalities. 45 days
4. Punjab House and Governor House (Annexe) Rawalpindi Institute of Information Technology/IT Park/Incubation Government of the Punjab: 3 Months.
5. Governor House, Lahore i). Building to be used as Heritage Museum and Art Gallery ii). Grounds/Lawns/Parkland & Zoo open to Public. iii). A fence similar to Bagh-e-Jinnah should replace boundary wall (On Mall Side). iv). Boys & Girls School, VTI, Medical Centre, Laboratory, Library/Gym, Madrasa/Mosque will be fenced off. v). A nominal ticket may be imposed. Government of the Punjab: 3 to 6 Months.
6. Free Masons Hall (CM Office), Lahore Crafts Museum/Conference Centre Government of the Punjab: 200 days.
7. Chamba House, Lahore New Governor House (Office & Residence of the Governor of Punjab) M/o Housing & Works to Handover to Punjab Government for Execution: 100 days.
8. State Guest House, Lahore Five Star Hotel on Lease basis through open bidding. Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 100 days.
9. Governor House, Karachi i. Creating public activity spaces whilst providing access to gardens for public use. ii. Conversion into Arts & Cultural Centre Federal Government /Government of Sindh: i. 100 days ii. 3 years.
10. State Guest House, Karachi May be leased out to the private sector after completing all codal formalities for conversion into a High End Hotel Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 100 days
11. Qasr-e-Naz, Karachi May be leased out to the private sector after completing all codal formalities for conversion into a hotel Ministry of Housing & Works: 100 days.
12. Governor House, Peshawar i. Tribal and National History Museum ii. Botanical Garden iii. Art Garden Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 3 years.
13.  Governor House, Nathiagali Boutique Hotel by leasing out to the private sector after observing all codal formalities Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa :100 days.
14. Governor House, Quetta i. Main Building: Museum (Currently, there is no Museum in Quetta) ii. Annexe Building: Ethnography Display Museum iii. Lawns/Gardens may be converted into Ladies/Children Park with separate entrance. Government of Balochistan: 3 Months.

To oversee progress on the decisions, a National Oversight Committee has also been constituted under the chairmanship of PM Imran Khan.

The committee comprises Minister for National History & Literary Heritage Mr. Shafqat Mahmood,  Secretary to the PM, Mr. Muhammad Azam Khan, chief secretaries of respective provincial government properties and others.