A RESTAURANT chain boss says he is considering opening a hotel in a place dubbed ‘heaven on earth’.

Mohammed Aslam, managing director of the Shipley-based Aagrah chain, says he will be part of a delegation going on a visit to Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan in August, to see the area’s business potential for himself.

He says he is looking into opening a five-star hotel resort in the area, which is said by some to be a real-life Shangri-La.

Mr Aslam was one of the guests at an event held in Bradford last month by the honorary UK ambassador to the region.

Haroon Rashid, who is originally from Bradford, spoke to an invited audience of 150 guests including businesspeople and community leaders from Yorkshire about the area. He described the area as ‘paradise’ and ‘heaven on earth’.

Gilgit-Baltistan is home to some of the world’s highest mountain ranges, including K2. Life expectancy in the region is 94.

The event held in Bradford also featured a display of emeralds, rubies and other gems mined from the area’s rocks. The tour to promote Gilgit-Baltistan will also go to London, Manchester, Brussels and Paris.

Mr Aslam said he was impressed by the presentation and may look to open Aagrah Group’s first hotel in the area.

He said: “It is a beautiful area, I have been there myself, it is a nice holiday area.

“I will be going on a fact-finding mission to see if everything will work out on it, rather than anything concrete at this stage. I want to make sure any investment is safe and I will be part of a delegation to go over there.

“If it’s right, I will bring any profit from it back to the UK.

“I will have a look to see what the area is like and what is its potential.

“We are interested in the idea.”

The Gilgit-Baltistan region is already a magnet for adventurous trekkers and climbers but now it hopes to widen its attraction by offering tax-free incentives for industry.

Bordered by the Indian-administered state of Kashmir as well as Afghanistan and China, the area has been difficult to reach in the past because of its mountains but now a new initiative between the Pakistani and the Chinese governments is opening up an economic corridor linking both countries by building tunnels and roads through the peaks to export goods easier. There is a lobby to also include India and Iran.

Mr Rashid is a former Belle Vue Boys’ School pupil who is now based in London working in the aviation and property industry.

He had the role of ambassador bestowed on him by Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman, the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan and the government of Pakistan.

Aagrah is a family-owned business that was set up 40 years ago and now employs 450 staff. It is the UK and Europe’s largest Kashmiri restaurant business.

It currently has 14 branches across Yorkshire, including in Thornbury, Ilkley and Shipley.

Aagrah Restaurants are regarded as pioneers of the Kashmiri cuisine and Mr Aslam, who has already received an MBE for his work, has made it his mission to promote Kashmiri cuisine to be recognised as a cuisine in its own right.

The firm has received honours including a special achievement award in 2014 at the British Curry Awards London.