'President to stay at cheapest five-star hotel in London'

President Asif Ali Zardari will stay in the cheapest five-star hotel in Central London which provides best corporate room rates to Pakistan High Commission during his official visit to UK from 3-8 August 2010, said a press release issued by Pakistan mission on Sunday.
Unlike the former military dictator President Musharraf who loved to stay in expensive hotels, Zardari and the delegates will stay in a hotel at cheapest possible room rates. The President will not stay in Royal suite but in a relatively cheaper suite. He is visiting London with the minimum possible delegates for a foreign visit, the release added.
Sources in the High Commission of Pakistan have confirmed that they have never paid for the President's private visit to Glasgow. According to the release, the room rents in London hotels have surged many times due to high tourist season from July-August, however, the rooms for president's delegation have been booked on discounted rates for the visit. The High Commission has booked only four junior suites for the senior officers in the delegation as per their entitlement. Rest of all the delegates will stay in standard rooms.
To economise the cost of the visit, the High Commission has booked 8-seater vans for the delegates which would cost one third of luxury cars. Food has been arranged for the delegates from a Pakistani restaurant at an unbelievable price for which one cannot buy even a sandwich in London.
The British Government will provide car and a backup car for the President during his stay in London. To economise the cost, the President will visit Birmingham by car to address community meeting on August 7.
The President will address a community gathering of 3000 people in Birmingham. The Hall booked by the High Commission is the cheapest hall available at very special discounted price. Pakistan Peoples Party will bear expenses for the vans carrying the party activists to community meeting. All ministers and senior members of the party have been instructed to pay their bills themselves, said the release.