3 plots on offer for Pak consulate in Mumbai

‘‘We have offered them the plots and asked to choose one. Their officials will visit the sites and take a decision,’’ Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said after a meeting with Pakistani High Commissioner Aziz Ahmed Khan, who called on him today.

‘‘We are ready to extend the help they want to set up the consulate,’’ Deshmukh said.

He told the Pakistani delegation that he had appointed Chief Protocol Officer Ajay Bhushan Pandey as nodal officer for the purpose.

Sources said the Pakistani delegation was more in favour of the Bandra plot, earmarked by MHADA for a transit camp, as it is located in the middle of the city.

Khan told Deshmukh that the Pakistani Embassy would be able to open the consulate by the end of the year if the plot was arranged immediately. The consulate will have a staff of 20 to 25 persons.

Reopening its consulate in Mumbai was one of the goals set by the Pakistani Government after the peace talks began last year. The consulate had been closed after relations between the two countries turned bitter in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on Parliament.

The Pakistani Embassy was interested in setting up the consulate at Jinnah House at Malabar Hill where Mohammad Ali Jinnah stayed. However, the Maharashtra Government had opposed the move on security grounds. The heritage building is located opposite the official residence of the Chief Minister and has official bungalows of several other ministers.

Deshmukh has also clarified that the Government was not offering concessions.