LAHO RE - A $150 million state-of-the-art Hyatt regency five-star luxury hotel with 300 rooms is under construction in Cantt near Afshan Chowk and will be completed in two and a half years. This was announced by the Pace Pakistan Limited Chief Operating Officer Moeed Rehman at a press conference at the Royal Palm Golf and Country Club here on Saturday. Pace (Pakistan) pioneered the retail revolution in 1995 by redefining organised retail with the launch of Pace Shopping Mall at the Main Boulevard, Lahore. During the press briefing Mr Rehman informed that one of their current projects is Pace Circle, which includes Hyatt hotel, a shopping mall and apartment complex with over 200,000 Sq ft of retail area. He said the Pace Circle mall would provide a sophisticated shopping experience to consumers with the best brands from around the world offering a wide variety of exclusive products. He observed that it will also have a landmark complex comprising Hyatt 5-star luxury Hotel with 300 rooms and State-of-the-art Hyatt-serviced and Pace managed apartments. He said that leading international architects, interior designers other consultants including top-of-the-line international firms like Creative Kitchen Planners, KROLL Security Group, Acviron Acoustics Consultants, Bo-Steiber Lighting Design and Green Architects have been engaged for this project. He said this would be the first apartment and shopping complex that would specialise in high-end tenancy development and exclusive management of retail area in Pakistan. Mr Malcom G Turner, veteran of Hyatt International, also spoke on the occasion. He said that Hyatt Intl Technical Services Inc is a subsidiary of Hyatt International Hotels and Resorts, which is responsible for the planning, design, and construction of all Hyatt projects worldwide, on behalf of all the owners of Hyatt International Hotels. PHA launches projects to beautify parks,roads On the direction of Chief Minister Punjab, the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) has launched two projects- Visual Garden and Street Furniture to beautify parks and roads of the City. Addressing a press conference here Saturday, Chairman CM's Task Force on Horticulture, Mustafa Kamal said that the first phase of visual garden would be completed by March 2009. Under this project, public art work will be displayed, and monuments and fountains would be installed at road crossings. He said the green belts of 32 roads would be landscaped which would give fascinated look. "We are taking measures to design parks of international standard to beautify Lahore city," he added. He said that a Street Furniture project is being started with private partnership and under this project benches, dust bins, iron grill, public toilets, potable water and bus stop shelter would be provided to facilitate the picnickers. Chairman Task Force said that both the projects would be completed at a cost of Rs 250 million and some multi-national companies have expressed expression of interest to contribute Rs 120 million for this purpose. In fourth phase, 15 new sports grounds would be established in the city, he added. Director General PHA, Nadeem Aslam was also present on the occasion.