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Raza Rabbani Urges Parliament Approval for Roosevelt Hotel Deal with US
PPP’s Raza Rabbani calls for transparency, saying the New York Roosevelt Hotel MoU with the US must be placed before Parliament. The iconic Manhattan property is a key asset under Pakistan’s privatisation strategy.
ND
by News Desk
2026-02-20
Raza Rabbani Urges Parliament Approval for Roosevelt Hotel Deal with US

Former Senate chairman and PPP stalwart Raza Rabbani on Friday called for the MoU signed between Pakistan and the United States to redevelop the Roosevelt Hotel in New York to be placed before Parliament, emphasising the need for transparency in strategic foreign deals.

In a press release, Rabbani said the agreement, signed without public or parliamentary consultation, pertains to the operation, maintenance, renovation, and redevelopment of the century-old Roosevelt Hotel in midtown Manhattan. He described the property as “prime real estate” and insisted that Parliament must be taken into confidence before such deals are executed.

“The strategic economic initiative, including collaboration with the US General Services Administration, has been signed without taking the people into confidence,” Rabbani said. He added that a similar deal on Balochistan minerals had previously been criticized by international media, and details of that agreement remain undisclosed.

Rabbani urged the PPP to move a private members’ bill requiring all foreign agreements to be ratified in Parliament. “I had moved such a bill when in the Senate,” he added.

Roosevelt Hotel Deal Details

The MoU was signed in Washington between Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and US General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Edward C. Forst, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff witnessing the ceremony.

According to the finance ministry, the agreement establishes a structured, time-bound framework for joint evaluation of technical, commercial, and economic aspects of the hotel’s redevelopment. The framework aims to reduce execution risks, streamline regulatory processes, and maximise transaction value while ensuring a disciplined, mutually beneficial cooperation.

The Roosevelt Hotel, named after former US President Theodore Roosevelt, is located in a prime Manhattan location near Grand Central Terminal, Times Square, and Fifth Avenue. Pakistan acquired the over 1,000-room property in 2000, but it has faced mounting operational losses. The hotel was closed in 2020 and has intermittently operated as a migrant shelter.

The ministry statement emphasised that the agreement aligns with Pakistan’s privatisation strategy while strengthening bilateral economic ties with the United States.

Strategic Importance and Public Debate

Rabbani’s remarks reflect broader concerns over transparency in foreign agreements involving national assets. Lawmakers and policy analysts have highlighted the Roosevelt Hotel as one of Pakistan’s most valuable overseas holdings, making oversight and parliamentary approval crucial.

The development is expected to attract attention from both domestic stakeholders and international investors as Pakistan seeks to maximise returns on its Manhattan property.
Tagged:

RazaRabbani

Privatisation

PakistanUSRelations

RooseveltHotel
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