ISLAMABAD, June 23: The government has not yet appointed a managing director of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) after the retirement of Masood Ali Khan.

Mr Khan retired on June 19 after serving as the PTDC’s managing director for two years.

An official source close to the tourism ministry said appointment of a managing director had always been a problem since he or she came from the private sector, and the officials concerned would want their favourite to be appointed to the post.

He said one of the options for the slot was Ghafar Mohmand who had been the PTDC’s managing director before Mr Khan. Mr Mohmand had met the environment minister and the ministry’s secretary in this regard. However, certain quarters were opposing Mr Mohmand’s appointment because of the tough time he had with the corporation’s management.

The source said Mr Mohmand, during his stint as the managing director, had been very strident in dispensation of his duties and gave a tough time to the PTDC officials.

The PTDC needs a professional person to help boost the tourism industry, but unfortunately the ministry did not look into this aspect.

It is worth mentioning here that the PTDC is celebrating year 2002 as the International Year of the Mountains under the UN resolution and has prepared a calender of events, arranged festivals throughout the country.