Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, target of three assassination attempts, has decided to shift to the sprawling, well-guarded President's House in Islamabad from his Army House residence in Rawalpindi.

Officials said Musharraf would formally move to the Aiwan-e-Sadr by the end of this month.

"We expect preparations for the shifting will be completed by the time the president returns from Switzerland by the end of January," local daily The News quoted a security official as saying.

Musharraf will be in Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum meet.

His security came under heavy strain as he travelled on a road linking Islamabad with Rawalpindi.

While a road bridge exploded seconds after his convoy passed, two suicide car bombers tried to attack his convoy in quick succession on December 25. Reports said an unidentified car again tried to breech security some days later.

As a result of the frequent attacks, Musharraf was advised to move into the presidential residence to avoid frequent travel.