Islamabad High Court issues notice in PTDC chief hiring case

Ask management why process for appointing a permanent MD not initiated

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has sought an explanation from the management of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) as to why it has failed to appoint a permanent managing director for the entity since 2017 despite clear instruction of the federal cabinet.

IHC judge Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb on Saturday issued a two-page written order on a petition challenging appointment of Intikhab Alam as acting director of the corporation.

The cabinet division on June 18 issued a notification appointing Alam as the PTDC acting MD for a period of three-month. The move was challenged by Mir Aurangzeb advocate who contended that for over two year, the organization is run by acting MDs.

According to the petition, the federal cabinet on February 7, 2019 directed the PTDC management to start process for appointment of a permanent head of the organization in accordance with the law.

The cabinet in its July 16, 2019 meeting expressed displeasure over “continuous practice of assigning additional charge of positions of the head of the departments despite clear instructions issued earlier”.  

Issuing notices on the petition, the IHC on Saturday directed the PTDC board of directors’ secretary to appear before the court on Monday – July 6 – and explain why the process for appointing a permanent MD has not been initiated in accordance with law.

“He shall also bring with him all the notifications for the appointment of MD of the PTDC on acting charge/ temporary basis ever since the retirement of the full time MD,” the order said.

The PTDC is a state-run organization, governed by a board of directors. It provides transportation to various areas and owns and runs several motels across the country.

The organization on Friday announced to close operations of 36 of its motels and fired up to 450 employees, delivering a blow to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision of reviving the tourism sector.

Last month, the PM has lifted restrictions on tourism industry and allowed overseas Pakistanis to return home after the National Coordination Committee approved a quarantine policy for Covid-19 patients.