RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) is converting Kamran Hotel in Saddar into a shopping mall. It is hoped that Rs350 million will be earned from renting out the 40 shops and offices being constructed.

Built on two kanals of land, Kamran Hotel owned by the RCB is located at Kashmir Road in Saddar near old covered market and Babu Mohallah. It was established in 1980 to earn revenue for the civic agency.

 “We were only receiving a monthly income of Rs1.5 million annually from the hotel. Now we will earn Rs1.5 million a month in rent. As the building is located in a commercial area, it was decided to convert the hotel into a shopping plaza,” RCB Cantonment Executive Officer Fahim Zafar Khan told Dawn on Tuesday.

He said the RCB did not receive direct funding from the federal government and generated money from its own sources such as renting property, taxing commercial and residential properties and collecting fees on building plans.

Mr Khan said the renovation of the building is costing Rs2 million.

He said the RCB had already launched a number of projects aimed at beautifying the Saddar area and repairing dilapidated old buildings on main roads like Haider Road, Bank Road, Kashmir Road, Adamjee Road and The Mall. “We have already started planting palm trees along Kashmir Road and will also be developing greenbelts along other roads. A flower market has been set up at the Old Tanga Stand,” he said.

He said Bank Road from Kashmir Road to Hospital Road had been made into a walking street.

Published in Dawn January 28th, 2015

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