LAHORE, June 9: Punjab Tourism Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal has ordered suspension of Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab’s general manager (operations) Mian Shahid Mahmood, Shahi Hamam in-charge Saqib Rasheed and other officials for the dereliction their duties.

During a visit to the Shahi Hamam Tourist Information Centre on Monday, the minister was informed that in-charge Saqib Rasheed had sub-let a portion of the Shahi Hamam and its historic importance was being commercialized and diminished for vested interests.

The minister also found that the tourist information centre’s main gate and other office rooms were locked and all officials posted at the centre, including the security guard, were absent from duty. He found that the key of the main gate was in the custody of a private person, who had opened the main gate after 15 minutes of his visit to the centre.

The minister found that two rooms of the Shahi Hamam in possession of TDCP watchmen Azam whose family was living there illegally.

Similarly, he found that Shahi Hamam’s another room was rented out to a private person in connivance with Hamam’s in-charge.

An embarrassing situation was created during the minister’s visit when a foreign delegation along with tourism officer Ijaz Butt came to the tourist information centre to seek guidance for the city tour. The delegation had to leave without any guidance as no staff deputed to guide tourists was present on the occasion.

The minister also found a ‘tanoor’ in Shahi Hamam’s compound. Different goods belonging to ex-lessee was also found scattered in different office rooms. The main gate at the back of Shahi Hamam was also found blocked due to encroachments.

Taking a serious notice of the pathetic situation, the minister directed immediate suspension of the responsible officials. He also directed TDCP managing director Raees Abbas Zaidi to conduct a detailed inquiry under relevant rules and submit him a report within a week.