ISLAMABAD: City managers are making all-out efforts to ensure the availability of 4,000 top-class hotel rooms in Islamabad for next year’s Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conference, with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) deciding to convene a conference of hotel owners next week.
Sources said a survey was in progress and the CDA was preparing an inventory of rooms in luxury hotels for SCO delegates. CDA officials said that although various hotels had more than 4,000 rooms available, around 1,000 did not meet international standards. Therefore, the CDA had decided to encourage the hotel industry to construct new rooms, complete ongoing hotel construction projects early and start work on new hotels.
“Though it is a huge challenge [to have 4,000 top-class rooms], we will meet this target,” said CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf.
He said the CDA would ensure that the required number of rooms were available in Islamabad.
Authority to convene hotel owners’ conference as Islamabad prepares for major international events
“Yes, we have decided to convene a conference of owners of top-class hotels and investors here in Islamabad. The conference aims to encourage hotel owners to construct new rooms, encourage investors to complete ongoing construction work on new hotels and explore new options for hotels in the capital city,” the CDA chairman said.
“I am happy to share that more than the required number of hotel rooms will be available next year in Islamabad, as a number of new hotels are currently being built at various places in Islamabad and will become functional next year. On the directions of the prime minister and interior minister, we are fully focusing on the hotel industry to make the SCO a memorable event,” he said.
He added that some other major events, including the South Asian Games and an IOC meeting, were also scheduled to take place in Islamabad next year.
Besides new and under-construction hotels, the city already has some major hotels, including Serena, Marriott and Mövenpick.
“Whereas, several new initiatives, like Ghandhra Club and some other government buildings, will also be added to our system as a backup for SCO delegates,” he said.
It is relevant to note that for the SCO conference, the New Islamabad Convention, Exhibition and Expo Centre (NICEEC) is also going to be built near the Malpur area to host the main SCO event. The existing Jinnah Convention Centre and Pak-China Friendship Centre will also be available to host some of the events.
Recently, the CDA opened the financial bids for NICEEC, with a China Construction Third Engineering Bureau-led joint venture (JV) emerging as the lowest bidder. There were only two JVs, both headed by Chinese companies, in the race.
The original PC-I was worth Rs16 billion, as the project was initially designed on an RCC structure. However, changes were made in the revised design and steel fabrication was added, with the domed roof to be made of steel. Therefore, the CDA received the lowest bid of Rs37 billion from the said company.
“Now, this bid and revised design will be shared with the consultant for reasonability of the rates as third-party validation. Once it is okayed by the consultant, we will move forward,” said an engineer of the CDA.
He said that once started, the project would be completed within one year, before the SCO conference.
According to a CDA document, “the flagship facility will serve as a world-class multi-functional venue for conventions, exhibitions, expos, trade fairs and cultural events, and will also host the SCO summit in 2027.”
According to the original PC-I, the total cost of the project was estimated at Rs19.3 billion, including contingency, consultancy, utility and landscaping costs. Sources said the main project cost was estimated at Rs16 billion, with a covered area of 270,000 square feet and a 60-foot-high main hall, to be completed in 18 months.
However, the design was later changed and steel components were added.
Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2026
