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20 May, 2013

First Industry Professional Appointed to Lead Pakistan Tourism

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Islamabad: Mr. Zafarullah Siddiqui, Economic Analyst / Joint Secretary (Dev) (BS-20) has assumed charge as Managing Director Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC). According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC), Mr. Siddiqui will look after the work of MD PTDC till appointment of a regular incumbent to this post.

This is the first time in the history of PTDC that a highly professional and qualified person in tourism marketing and hotel management has been assigned the job. Pakistan’s leading travel and tourism stake holders have welcomed the appointment.

Mr. Siddiqui has an impressive academic qualification and professional experience. He completed his MSc Defence and Strategic Studies from NDU Islamabad in 2008-9, MBA from Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University USA on a Fulbright Mason Fellow in 1989-90, MSc Tourism Marketing from University of Surrey, England in 1984-85 with distinction on dissertation entitled, “Tourism Marketing in UK’s Context”.

He also studied M Phil leading PhD (Organization Method in Tourism) in 1986 (incomplete) from University of Surrey, MA (Economics) from University of Sindh in 1972 (First Class First), besides completing Advance Course in Public Sector Management at NIPA Lahore (December 2003) and Executive Leadership Development Programme at John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University USA (2007). Before his transfer to Ministry of IPC in 2011, Mr. Siddiqui served as Joint Secretary (Development/Economic Analyst), Deputy Chief (R&D/R&S) and other positions for over 30 years in the defunct Ministry of Tourism.

He has conducted and participated as guest speaker in countless public and private sector seminars, conferences and workshops on tourism & hotel management, tourism marketing, strategic marketing, public administration, human resource management, integrated marketing communication, business ethics, brand management etc across the country besides delivering regular lectures on these subject in FJWU, AIOU, Karakoram University, Pakistan Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management (PITHM), TDCP Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management, SZABIST, Bahria University, Air University, Hamdard University, Iqra University, Foundation University, IIU.

Author of the book, “Tourism Marketing in UK’s Context” (published in 1988), Mr. Siddiqui has written many articles, key note addresses and research papers in dozens of national and international seminars and conferences organized by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). As Consultant of the UNWTO in 2000, he co-authored of the “Tourism Marketing Master Plan for Pakistan” sponsored by UNDP / UNWTO.