May 5, 2003	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 2, 1424

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WASHINGTON, May 4: Pakistan’s embassy in the United States has shifted to a new building.

The six-level, purpose-built building is decorated with Multan and Thatta tiles, albeit made in Mexico, and has glass windows patterned on the ‘Jharokas’ of the Lahore Fort.

It is flanked by the embassies of Malaysia, Nigeria, Egypt, Brunei and the United Arab Emirates and its back windows give a close view of the embassy of Israel.

Because of the Israeli Embassy, the portion of Washington’s International Drive is perhaps the most guarded place in the US.

Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali was scheduled to formally open the embassy earlier this month but his visit was postponed “against the embassy’s advice” because of the Iraq war. So instead of inviting another VIP, the embassy settled for a simple opening ceremony.

The building was completed at a cost of $15 million, part of which will be recovered by selling two of the three buildings Pakistan owns in the diplomatic enclave here.

It has a covered area of 150,000 square feet, with the staff parking lot in the basement. It was completed in one-and-a-half years, by a local construction firm. The firm sent its architects to Pakistan to observe historical sites and prepare the design.

It has a community hall with a capacity for 350 people, and a 100-seat auditorium.