Privatization of PTDC hotels, motels moving ahead
By Saad Ahmed

ISLAMABAD—The process to privatize hotels and motels of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) is going ahead, officials said Tuesday.
They said no objections from people associated with the tourism industry had come came to its notice and the privatization process would go as per schedule.
“We have listed 26 out of 42 hotels/motels that would surely be privatized,” said Najib Khawar Awan, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism.
It was in line with the policies of the government to encourage private sector to do business in tourism industry, said Najib Awan, who has been given additional charge of Managing Director of PTDC. “We explore sites and put in place infrastructure there which is followed by private sector as has been done in picturesque Kalam,” he said. The corporation built the first ever hotel at Kalam, but now the valley had several such ventures launched all by private sector, the MD said.
“I think we should look for new locations and take such initiatives that would be followed by private sector,” he said. Some tour operators and tourist guides, especially in the Northern Areas, have however privately questioned the merit of the privatization move. They believe that the move would not serve the cause tourism industry and fear that a large number of employees of the PTDC facilities could lose their jobs a result. “We are uncertain whether or not we would continue working if thesehotels/motels go into private hands,” said an official, who requested anonymity.
Well-informed sources in the administration of Northern said the administration had certain concerns that it had passed on to the Ministry of Privatization.
The Ministry of Privatization and Investment in May 2007 had announcedits plan to sell off 26 PTDC motels and restaurants and asked for expression of interest (EOI) from the interested parties.
About 36 companies and individual investors had shown their interest in the purchase of motels/restaurants.
The privatization is aimed at promoting tourism and improving the quality of services and to foster competition in the country.
The PTDC has divided the 26 facilities in 12 different groups.
Group-one has resorts at Basreen in district Kohistan, Besham in district Changla Par, and Chatter Plain in district Batagram. Second group consists of three resorts, namely; Khaplu in district Ghanche, Satpara andAstak in district Skardu. Third group consists of facilities at Gupis and Phandar in district Ghizer and Pama Lake in district Chilas.
Fourth group consists of resorts at Gilgit, Hunza and Sust in district Gilgit. The fifth group consists of Bamburet, Birmoglasht and Chitral in district Chitral. The sixth group consist of two resorts at Bunni and Mastuj in district Chitral, while the seventh group consist of Chakdrar restaurant in Malakand Agency and Panakot in district Dir.