Ahmad Shafiq: From 13 Students in Lahore to a Global Hospitality Education Network
When Ahmad Shafiq returned to Pakistan from the United Kingdom in 2002, he identified a major gap in the country’s education landscape: professional hospitality education was still largely neglected.
Instead of simply identifying the problem, he decided to build an institution around the solution.
That vision resulted in the establishment of the first College of Tourism & Hotel Management (COTHM) campus on M.M. Alam Road, Lahore, in 2002. According to COTHM’s official history, the first batch consisted of only 13 students.
What started as a small educational initiative gradually developed into a nationwide hospitality and tourism education network.
Today, COTHM describes itself as a leading international hospitality colleges network, with 100K+ alumni and a growing international footprint.
Building People, Not Just an Institute
Ahmad Shafiq’s contribution goes beyond establishing an educational institution. His model has focused on developing professionals with a combination of education, practical skills, industry exposure and internationally aligned qualifications.
Over the years, COTHM expanded its academic portfolio into hospitality management, culinary arts, baking and patisserie, travel, tourism, airline management, food safety and related disciplines.
In 2025, Ahmad Shafiq stated that COTHM had delivered 75,000 skilled professionals to the industry, with another 20,000 ready to enter and lead within the sector. COTHM’s current platforms now report an alumni community exceeding 100,000.
This evolution demonstrates the scale of the original vision.
From Pakistan to the Global Hospitality Industry
The objective was never limited to producing graduates for the local market.
COTHM has developed international academic and industry partnerships designed to provide students with pathways toward careers in hotels, restaurants, airlines, cruise lines, travel companies and tourism organizations around the world.
Ahmad Shafiq’s vision has therefore evolved from creating a hospitality institute to creating a talent pipeline for the international hospitality economy.
The journey that began with 13 students in 2002 has become a story of skills, careers and international opportunity.
For Ahmad Shafiq, the real measure of institutional success is not simply the number of campuses or programs. It is the number of young people who acquire skills, enter professional careers and represent Pakistan in industries around the world.
From 13 students to 100,000+ alumni, Ahmad Shafiq’s COTHM journey represents one of Pakistan’s significant stories in professional hospitality education.
