July 20, 2020
By Umar Bacha
GILGIT
At least 600 employees lost their jobs after the Pakistan Tourism Corporation motels in the Northern areas of Pakistan were abruptly closed down.
The only tourism hotel and motel company of Pakistan has recently issued a notification announcing closure of all its motels located in KP and Gilgit Baltistan also terminating all of its employees pushing them into distress.
Anwar Zeeb, who had been served at PTDC for over 40 years, said that it was an internationally acknowledged company for tourist facilitation in Pakistan and almost every motel and hotel situated in the scenic areas of KP and Gilgit Baltistan fell under.
“I don’t think it is a wise decision, this could have been avoided and if competent professionals were taken onboard they would take the PTDC towards development,” he said.
There was profit coming in from domestic tourists while all the motels had profit ventures and there was a qualified, experienced and dedicated staff.
Liaqat Ali Khan, the incharge at PTDC Rama, told Voicepk.net that over 600 employees’ livelihood came from PTDC with which they supported their families. Now they would be facing severe financial problems since its closure.
He claimed that last year in 2019 he had earned over Rs 10 million from the 12-room motel of Rama and that it was benfitting. The Government claims were totally wrong.
Imran Uddin, information desk incharge at PTDC Gilgit city, said they could never accept this kind of sudden termination of their jobs and that they would submit a petition in court against the decision.
