WASHINGTON: The Pakistani embassy building in Washington DC is set to be transformed into an institute after Shahal Khan made a successful $6.8 million bid to purchase the property.
The old chancery building on R Street in northwest Washington has a “historical status,” according to Khan, who has sent a draft contract to the Pakistani government.
In November 2021, the Pakistani cabinet approved the proposal to auction the building, which had lost its diplomatic status and had only completed 60% of its renovation.
The building was no longer suitable for use, and the cabinet approved the proposal to auction it transparently.
A previous bid of $4.5 million had been made, but Khan’s bid of $6.9 million was accepted, being $2.3 million higher than the previous offer.
If Pakistan had not auctioned the building, it would have been sold by the United States.
The Foreign Office confirmed the approval of the sale in December, stating that the building was no longer in use, needed repairs, and was subject to local building and taxation regulations.