PM stresses to promote tourism hoteling
By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD—Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro has said that training and other facilities in the Pakistan Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (PITHM) must be improved to make it an internationally recognized institution as well as to make it self sustainable entity.
Chairing a meeting of PITHM to review its performance here at the Prime Minister's Secretariat on Wednesday, the Caretaker Prime Minister called upon the need for standardization of services to meet the growing international as well as domestic demand in these areas.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan has a great potential in tourism, traveling and hotel business and in this regards trained work forces is essential to meet the demand of these sectors. He said that this would not only help create jobs opportunities but also earn foreign exchange for the country.
The Prime Minister said that training must be focused on improving the professionalism and standards so that the students are well equipped to meet the requirements to get jobs abroad easily as well.
The Prime Minister also constituted a committee to look into various options to make PITHM a viable institution to produce high caliber work force to meet the demand both domestically and internationally.
Earlier, in his presentation, the Secretary Information informed the meeting that the institute of PITHM is offering courses of certificate and diploma level in travel business, tourism and hospitality. He said that during 2007, the institute had trained 760 students.
The meeting was further informed that the institute is also regularly training personnel in various outlets. During 2006-07, the Secretary Information said, the institute trained about 200 students from PAF, PNSC, NAVTEC, SSGC, CNFA and Hino Pak Motors.
He said that PITHM students are usually hired during their training in various departments including hotels, restaurants, clubs etc.