ISLAMABAD: The only subsidised place to stay in the capital city commonly known as Sarai Aam, which has been lying abandoned for the last around one decade, is now being considered for housing of fices of the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI).

Sources said the MCI was planning to shift some of its offices there.

Located in G-7, the single-storey building was built in 1987 to provide subsidised temporary accommodation to those who visited the capital city from far-flung areas for officialwork.

If all goes as planned, the MCI will set up its maintenance and inquiry offices which deal with road, streetlights, environment, water supply and city`s maintenance issues,in the building.

`The capital is the most costly city where there is already shortage of affordable hotels. Instead of setting upits ofhces, the MCI should make the building functional to serve its original purpose,` said an official of the MCI who requested not to be named.

He said the capital city had only one or two state-run youth hostels and the building was ideal for such a hostel. A shelter house can also be set up in the building.

`Recently, on the directive of the prime minister, two shelter homes, one each in I-11 and Tramri, have been set up so this building could also be used for such a f acility. But there is no logic for using the building for government offices,` the official said.

Another official said the building should be used as per its original purpose and any other use would defeat the true purpose of providing affordable night stay to people from f ar-flung areas.

However, he said if the MCI was adamant not to bring the building under public welfare use it should auction the building to earn billions of rupees.

The building is located along the maindouble road of Sitara Market and Blue Area.

The 19-room building was inaugurated on March 17, 1987, by then CDA chairman Mazhar Rafi. The residents of other cities were allowed to spend a night in the building by paying only Rs75.

But with the passage of time, the building started losing charm due to the negligence of the CDA and was closed for night stay in 2010.

In 2016, the then CDA management in a dubious move rented out the building to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) but the bureau did not use it. Last year, the Directorate of Municipal Administration of the MCI got back the building`s possession f rom NAB.

When contacted, Chief Metropolitan Of ficer Syed Najaf Iqbal said a final decision about the utilisation of the building was yet to be taken. However, he said: `We are considering shifting our maintenance offices to the building.

He said the MCI was facing shortage of offices and its offices were set up at scattered places.

`We will decide the matter in greater interest of the MCI,` he said.