As Pakistan’s economy goes through a tight crunch, it is being reported that the PML-N-led government has decided to sell its old embassy building located in the United States.
According to the details, the Foreign Office has given approval to the Pakistani embassy in Washington to sell its old building, which was lying vacant for the last 15 years.
The building located at the prime location of Washington is worth $5 to 6 million dollars. The embassy building is allegedly being sold due to the ‘crunch’ economic situation in Pakistan.
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Currently, Pakistan is going through a tough economic situation with looming fears of a default. The recent floods have only added to this dire situation, and the loss to our economy has been unprecedented.
Why is it going to sell old historical building of our embassy in US ? Will it bail out Pakistan in the current economic crisis. The answer is a big no. Sale may be intended to be made to front man of present unfortunate rulers. It should not be allowed to materialise https://t.co/GR8Gso0AYL
— Rehmatullah Khan Wazir (@RKWazir4) December 13, 2022
The Pakistan government has several properties lying vacant in the US. In a bid to make use of the idle properties, the government considered selling them. Earlier, the Foreign Affairs Division moved to the cabinet the case of two old Chancery buildings, located on 2201 R Street and 2315 Massachusetts Avenue in Washington, which have been lying vacant since the Pakistan Embassy there was relocated to a purpose-built Chancery Building in April 2003.
Similarly, reports emerged that Pakistan is expected to sell shares of the Roosevelt Hotel in New York’s Manhattan to Qatar in return for the Doha investment in the aviation sector.
The Roosevelt Hotel, established in 1924, is among the historic hotels in the United States and is situated in the luxurious downtown area of Manhattan. PIA had acquired the 19-storey building in 1979 on the partnership, from its own profits and as a part of PIA’s diversification strategy.
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The notion of the PML-N government selling the iconic Roosevelt hotel stirred a strong reaction from Pakistanis on social media as they criticized the government for selling the country’s assets.
Government offers to sell The Roosevelt Hotel to Qatari party.
The only assets of Pakistan which is not losing money is being offered for sale without transparency and nobody can challenge it in court as per the new law
HINT: Long time NS front man Saif ur Rehman lives in Qatar
— Mir Mohammad Alikhan (@MirMAKOfficial) August 16, 2022
Another scandal brewing. Iconic assets of the country being put on sale and that too below the market value. Someone is looking to cash in on the opportunity. Any guess who that might be? pic.twitter.com/AMmGFPmLCL
— Hasaan Khawar (@hasaankhawar) December 13, 2022