ON the heels of the decision to terminate services of over nine thousand employees of Pakistan Steel Mills, the Government has moved to shut down motels of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) in Northern Areas and terminate services of employees. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Zulfiqar Bukhari defended the decision by putting up a strange argument that employees have not been terminated due to Coronavirus but because of losses being incurred by PTDC.
Tapping true potential of the country in tourism was one of the major planks of the incumbent Government’s agenda but things stand as before even after passage of two years. PTDC might have been suffering losses on account of its assets but one expected of the Government to improve their working and productivity and not their disposal in a throw away manner. Pakistan has immense tourism potential and in view of a surge in domestic tourism, there was no reason why PTDC facilities and motels should suffer losses if they are run on professional lines. This speaks of inability of the Government to bring about improvement in tourism sector and its reliance on beaten tracks of privatization. Shutting of organizations and sacking of employees is reflective of lack of vision on the part of the officials concerned as similar institutions in other parts of the globe are delivering efficiently. It is regrettable that a Government that boasted of providing millions of jobs is treading the path of closure of institutions and termination of services of their employees compounding problems of the people and the economy. PTDC motels are precious assets, which can easily be turned into profitable ventures through little effort and attention as these are located in prime locations. The Government should, therefore, review its policy of selling assets for temporary gains or vested interests.
