PM Imran Khan will reportedly stay at the Pakistan ambassador’s official residence instead of an expensive hotel during his three-day visit to Washington, starting on July 21. Pakistan is in midst of a massive economic crisis and just secured a $6 Billion package from the IMF.
While staying at the ambassador’s residence can significantly reduce the cost of the visit and neither the US secret service nor the city administration appears “very receptive” to the idea.
Pakistan ambassador’s residence is in the heart of Washington’s diplomatic enclave, just off one of the city’s main arteries, the Massachusetts Avenue. There are at least a dozen embassies in and around that area, including those of India, Turkey and Japan while another dozen embassies such as those of Brazil, Britain and South Africa are not far away.
A visiting government head also holds a number of meetings with US officials, lawmakers and media and think-tank representatives during his stay in Washington. Since the residence is not large enough for all these meetings, the prime minister will have to meet his guests at the Pakistan embassy, commuting through Washington’s busy traffic during rush hours.
