Lalit Suri plans hotel in Pakistan

Reflecting growing warmth in Indo-Pak ties, top Indian hotelier Lalit Suri intends to make investments in Pakistan in the hotel industry, stock trading and manufacturing of air-conditioners.

The Rajya Sabha MP paid a flying visit to Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Lahore yesterday with twin objectives -- to make an emotional journey to his birthplace and explore investment opportunities in this country.

His ancestral Haweli (mansion) in Rawalpindi is now a government-run school for the blind. Suri, chairman of 'The Grand' hotel group, which has substantially expanded in recent years, is said to be keen on building a hotel in Lahore.

He confirmed that he intended to make investments in hotel industry, stock trading and manufacturing of air-conditioners in this country and said he has received a "positive response" from the Pakistani side.  "The signals are okay. I will go back and think over our next step," he said.