Sofitel quits Pakistan on security concerns

KARACHI: Sofitel, the luxury brand of international hotel chain Accor, quit Pakistan a few months back after the project faced continuous delays because of poor security situation and economic slowdown in the country, industry officials said on Saturday.

“As far as the hotel is concerned, the project has been delayed,” said Abdul Rehman Naqi, a Managing Partner of the Triple Tree Associates, which sponsored the hotel. “We are focusing on the shopping mall now. I can’t share anymore details.”

Launched amid much fanfare in 2006, the Sofitel Towers Karachi was to become the grandest building of Pakistan’s largest city. At 27-storeys, the building in the posh Clifton neighbourhood was to house a shopping mall and a hotel.

This is the second time in three years that Accor has pulled out of Pakistan. In 2008, Accor cancelled the deal with the Karachi Airport Hotel, calling off the contract for use of its Mercure brand......