Presents International Hotel Mövenpick with Luxurious Hospitality & Multinational Cuisine
We are Focused on Islamabad as Face of Pakistan – City will have Fourth Tower Soon
Pakistan has Ideal Sites for ASEAN & Central Asian Tourists – CPEC Beneficial for whole Region
Tazeen Akhtar with Cameraman Raja Farid
Centaurus is one of few Groups of Companies that have played a crucial role in supporting the national economy of Pakistan and restoration of the confidence of local and foreign investors .
Sardar Ilyas Khan The Chairman of Sardar Group of Companies and CEO of Al-Tamimi Group was the founder of Centaurus Mall in the first phase in Islamabad at a time when no one from abroad was ready to invest in Pakistan because the country and the capital of the country were worst hit by terrorism in 2005-06.
Sardar Ilyas Khan launched the multi billion rupees project Centaurus and made it clear upon the others that Pakistan has great potential for investments. President of Pakistan conferred upon him the highest civil award Sitara e Pakistan in recognition of his services for attracting Foreign Direct Investments and providing employment to thousands of Pakistanis in the country as well as in Saudi Arabia.
Sardar Ilyas built the project that was the first of its type in Pakistan and handed over to his able sons. Sardar Ilyas has three sons, Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, former Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, Dr Rashid Ilyas Khan, Medical Doctor qualified from UAE, President of Centaurus Group of Companies and the youngest Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, former President ICCI.
Now the group has launched Islamabad’s first Six Star hotel Mövenpick in one of three Towers of Centaurus last month. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated it . This is another contribution to the skyline of Islamabad by the group as there were only two reasonable hotels and no other option was available for the guests who need international standards in hospitality.
It is more than US$130 million investment in Pakistan’s hospitality industry. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sees it as an epitome of progress and the international trust on Pakistan.
Couple of weeks ago, Acting President, Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani was chief guest at the opening of first the highest Chinese restaurant in the same Mövenpick.
Another gift for Islamabad is the fourth tower of Centaurus, the construction of which has been started at the adjacent plot to the Mall and Move n Pick. It means the citizens of capital will see 4 towers soon at Centaurus enclave.
We approached to Dr Rashid Ilyas Khan for an interview and he generously welcomed us and spared more than due time to answer our questions despite we were late due to lawyers rally and Police checking on the roads.
We started our interview from the same point , that once again , Islamabad is disturbed with bad state of affairs, this time the reason is not terrorism but political chaos and agitations. How do you see this Islamabad?
Dr Rashid Ilyas replied that the political parties should not disturb the social life of the city. They should protest at some fixed point and should not block or made the administration block the roads. this is country of all and everyone should take care of the national assets and infrastructure.
He has seen many countries and better understands the importance of infrastructure , security, political stability and smooth policies’ implementation for promotion of national economies and foreign direct investments and the same he recommends for Pakistan.
He loves Pakistan and all provinces of Pakistan. He feels happy when Pakistan achieves something and he feels bad when someone criticizes Pakistan for no reason.
We discussed infrastructure facilities for Azad Kashmir as well. It is known fact that a large number of Kashmiris live abroad sending billions of dollars in foreign currency reserves but there is no Airport.
British Trade Commissioner & Centaurus officials Discuss Bilateral Cooperation
Dr Rashid Ilyas Khan says that airports are there in Muzaffarabad, Mirpur and Rawalakot but they are not operational. He agrees that at least one airport should be operational in Azad Kashmir.
Dr Rashid Ilyas is not interested in politics. He says , I have no intention to join poltics. Public service can be done otherwise as well without indulging in politics, and that we are doing at our level. Notwithstanding, he understands that there are some aspects where you need power to do something like we discussed the operationalization of airport in Azad Kashmir.
About hotel Mövenpick, Dr Rashid Ilyas is hopeful that it will add to the economic and investment opportunities in Pakistan. He shared that the hotel meets all international standards of a six star hotel. We have imported everything from abroad as this International Chain bounds their Franchise. Our Chefs are experts of multinational cusines. We have Chinese Chef for Chinese taste, Jordanian Chef for Arab dishes and European for the western food.
Grand Automotive Show in Collaboration with HAC & Cars of Pakistan @ Centaurs Mall Islamabad
Dr Rashid Ilyas says when I started studies in UAE and Father was working in Saudia , we observed how these countries developed them from deserts to the best landmarks, roads, infrastructure and provided all facilities for their public. This compelled us to think that if these countries with deserts only transform themselves into such beautiful places then why we can not bring all this in Pakistan that is already a green and beautiful country.
Dr Rashid Ilyas says that many countries in the world earn their total GDP from tourism despite they have only one type of tourism either they have beautiful beaches or eye catching landscapes , ancient heritage or religious sites , one of them only.
Pakistan has everything, the best beaches, lush green fields, deserts, mountains of every type , dry as well as green, the glaciers, in heritage, we have ancient civilizations like Indus river, Harappa, Mohenjo Daro, in Middle ages, we have Moghal architecture, in religious tourism , we have Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist sites.
He says, Pakistan is the idealistic destination for the people of ASEAN and Central Asian countries for the heritage of their ancestors we have.
The government set up Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) soon after assumption the work on restoration of economy . Dr Rashid Ilyas Khan welcomes the council and considers it as an accelerator to attract foreign investments. He said, we have worked with the council and shared our suggestions as well. We are sure that the efforts of SIFC are bringing fruit and recent achievements in this direction can been seen in the same context.
He says, UAE attracted 33 Million foreigners in last one year only , Pakistan having diversity of tourist attractions can also welcome a big number of foreigners. We have to prepare our country for that. He said Pakistanis are famous for their hospitality, we need to build an infrastructure and train our people for hospitality services.
For example, at Hotel Mövenpick we have hired the staff who has been trained on international standards. The management of the hotel consists of internationally qualified experts and we have handed over all the management to them. With 380 rooms, the hotel offers luxury accommodations and panoramic city views, with state-of-the-art amenities for business and leisure travelers alike.
Dr Rashid Ilyas says, we are focused in Islamabad for the time being because we want concentration on our work to make it the best. We have offers and proposals of construction of landmarks in other cities. May be in the future we start some projects in other cities but presently we have more projects for Islamabad as it is the face of Pakistan.
To a question about China Pakistan Economic Corridor , weather your group has any ambition to launch any project on this most promising route of future that is connecting not only China but Central Asia also with Pakistan ? Dr Rashid Ilyas considers CPEC as beneficial for Pakistan and the region. He says, we will certainly look into the prospects of working along with this game changer corridor when some proper time and proposal comes.
Centaurus Group is contributing in welfare sector as well. There are many projects working in different areas. Most recently , the group has inaugurated a state of the art welfare hospital in Muzaffarabad. More than 100 operations of eye patients were conducted there free of cost.
Dr Rashid Ilyas says , everyone makes efforts for his own self but important is , you do something good for others as well. That is the purpose of humanity. ” yahi hay ebaadat yahi deen o eemaan – ke kaam aaye dunya me insaan kay insaan”
Finally we thanked Dr Rashid Ilyas Khan and his team including Syed Asim Raza for their time and took their leave expressing our thought that governments do not do everything. Private sector also contributes in the development of the countries like Centaurus Group is doing. Pakistan’s future is bright thanks to the efforts of such groups.
We need not be disappointed. As Iqbal said, ” Naheen hay na ummeed Iqbal apni Kisht e weeran sey – Zara Nam ho tau ye mitti bari zarkhaiz hay Saaqi”
