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Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Karachi-Rohri track rehabilitation may commence this year
The Senate Standing Committee on Railways was briefed on upcoming, ongoing, and pending railway projects, as well as the major challenges currently facing the Ministry of Railways. The meeting, chaired by Senator Jam Saifullah Khan, was informed that a total of 38 projects worth Rs 260.085 billion were undertaken during the fiscal year 2024-25. Of these, six projects have been completed, while 32 have been carried forward to 2025-26. While briefing the committee, the Chairman of Railways described the Main Line-1 (ML-1) project — spanning from Karachi to Rohri — as a "lifeline" for the Reko Diq and Thar coal projects, which are expected to commence this year, subject to the availability of funds. He noted that the total estimated cost of ML-1 stands at Rs2,298.18 billion, and a proposal has been submitted for the allocation of Rs75 billion in the financial year 202526 to initiate the project. The committee was further informed that 12 additional projects — covering track expansion, safety enhancements, rehabilitation, track replacement, feasibility studies, and upgraded security systems — require an allocation of Rs11.076 billion in the next fiscal year.
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Karachi handles 99pc of country's cargo through roads: Call to shift road freight to railways
KARACHI: Divisional Superintendent Pakistan Railways Mehmood ur Rehman Lakho has said that Karachi handles 99 percent of Pakistan's cargo that needs to be diverted from roads to railways otherwise the city will continue to face deterioration in its road infrastructure caused by the movement of outbound heavy vehicles using the roads of Karachi to reach their destinations in the upcountry. Exchanging views at a meeting during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Mehmood ur Rehman added that the purpose for his visit to the largest Chamber of country was to explore ways and means for reviving and strengthening rail freight connectivity from Karachi to major industrial and commercial hubs of Pakistan. 'Shifting to rail freight is not only economically beneficial but also environmentally responsible, as rail transport is three times more fuel-efficient than road freight, which in turn reduces carbon emissions, saves foreign exchange on fuel imports, and eases the burden on highways,' he added. Senior Vice President Zia ul Arfeen, Vice President Faisal Khalil Ahmed, Deputy Division Superintendent Operational PR Hamid Farooq Qureshi, Deputy Divisional Superintendent Rolling Stock PR M Ferhan Awan along with other senior PR Officials and KCCI Managing Committee members attended the meeting. Divisional Superintendent PR highlighted that Pakistan Railways has taken significant steps to modernize its freight operations over the past decade. Between 2013 and 2015, more than 1,400 new hopper wagons, over 2,000 high-capacity flat wagons, and 55 modern locomotives were inducted into the fleet. These wagons have dramatically increased the payload capacity from an average of 20 tons to 60 tons per wagon, allowing each train to carry over 4,000 tons of cargo. The Divisional Engineer expressed concern over the delayed implementation of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which was initially envisioned to be a game-changer for the country's rail infrastructure. He said that without ML-1, Pakistan Railways remains constrained in its capacity to deliver long-haul, high-speed cargo services across Karachi, Sukkur, Multan, and onward to the northern zones. He also informed the gathering that Pakistan Railways is working on ambitious plans to revive international rail freight services connecting Karachi to Moscow via Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan — a corridor that would unlock new export markets for Pakistani goods, especially textiles and industrial products. Mehmood Lakho further shared that Pakistan Railways is now exploring modern logistics models such as multimodal freight movement, dedicated industrial cargo trains for Karachi's export-oriented sectors, and the potential introduction of Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) wagons where loaded trucks can be directly transported via train to their destinations, thus bypassing congested highways and reducing fuel and maintenance costs. He added that the department is ready to work closely with KCCI and its members to identify freight priorities and launch pilot routes connecting Karachi with Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar. Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG) Zubair Motiwala, while appreciating the visit of the railway officials, described it as a much-needed effort to bridge the gap between Pakistan Railways and the business community. He stated that Pakistan Railways had historically been the backbone of trade and industrial logistics in the country, but due to neglect, mismanagement, and rising reliance on road transport, the railways had lost its significance. 'As a result, logistics costs have increased dramatically, roads have deteriorated due to overuse, and the entire supply chain has become more vulnerable to disruptions such as fuel shortages, political protests, and highway closures.' Motiwala emphasized that a strong and reliable freight rail network would bring enormous benefits to Karachi's industries, which are currently suffering from slow inland movement of raw materials and finished goods. He stated that freight trains are not only cost-effective and timely, but also safer, more secure, and more resilient to external shocks compared to road transport. Karachi's roads, he noted, are severely congested with heavy trucks passing through densely populated areas, creating traffic bottlenecks, pollution, and road damage. Rehabilitating and expanding railway cargo services would drastically reduce the burden on urban infrastructure and improve the efficiency of trade logistics, he added. Speaking on the occasion, President KCCI Jawed Bilwani underscored the urgent need to revive rail cargo operations as a strategic imperative for Pakistan's economy. He said that Karachi, being the industrial and commercial capital of Pakistan, lacks the road infrastructure to shoulder the logistics burden of the entire country. With hundreds of thousands of trucks entering and exiting the city daily, the road network has deteriorated beyond repair, and the city frequently experiences supply chain paralysis due to traffic jams, strikes, and fuel-related disruptions. He noted that countries that maintain low logistics costs, particularly through rail, achieve greater industrial growth and better export competitiveness. He strongly advocated for launching dedicated cargo trains to and from Karachi's industrial zones, which are home to the nation's leading exporters. He stressed that Pakistan Railways must explore operational models that include the introduction of Roll-on/Roll-off wagons to transport entire trucks by train, the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) not only for passengers but also for freight, and the rationalization of excessive and unaffordable charges imposed on industrial rail crossings and private sidings. Bilwani proposed the formation of a joint working committee between KCCI and Pakistan Railways to develop and oversee freight service pilots, align schedules with port timings, resolve customs clearance challenges at dry ports, and ensure sustained engagement between public and private stakeholders. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Shift cargo from roads to rail: railway official
Listen to article Divisional Superintendent of Pakistan Railways (PR), Mehmoodur Rehman Lakho, has said that 99% of Pakistan's cargo moves through Karachi, warning that unless freight is shifted from roads to rail, the city's road infrastructure will continue to deteriorate under the strain of heavy outbound vehicles. Speaking at a meeting during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Lakho said the purpose of his visit was to explore ways to revive and strengthen rail freight connectivity from Karachi to Pakistan's major industrial and commercial centres. "Shifting to rail freight is not only economically beneficial but also environmentally responsible," he said. "Rail transport is three times more fuel-efficient than road freight, helping reduce carbon emissions, conserve foreign exchange, and ease pressure on highways." He highlighted the strides Pakistan Railways has made in modernising its freight operations over the past decade. Between 2013 and 2015, the department added more than 1,400 hopper wagons, over 2,000 high-capacity flat wagons, and 55 modern locomotives. These upgrades increased payload capacity from an average of 20 tonnes to 60 tonnes per wagon, enabling each train to transport over 4,000 tonnes of cargo. However, Lakho expressed concern over the delayed implementation of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), calling it critical to expanding the country's rail cargo network. Without ML-1, he said, Pakistan Railways remains limited in its capacity to deliver long-haul, high-speed cargo services across Karachi, Sukkur, Multan towards the northern regions. He also shared plans to revive international rail freight links from Karachi to Moscow via Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. This corridor, he said, could unlock new export markets, especially for textiles and industrial products. Lakho said Pakistan Railways is exploring modern logistics solutions such as multimodal freight, dedicated industrial cargo trains for export sectors, and Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) wagons that can carry entire loaded trucks by trainbypassing congested highways and reducing costs. He expressed willingness to collaborate with KCCI to identify freight priorities and launch pilot routes connecting Karachi with Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar. Chairman of the Businessmen Group (BMG), Zubair Motiwala, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a long-overdue effort to rebuild the historic partnership between the business community and Pakistan Railways, which had been eroded by years of neglect and overreliance on road transport.
Express Tribune
21-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
China, Pakistan set to boost trade, agriculture
The Chinese envoy highlighted the significant strides in China-Pakistan relations, especially in light of the recent high-level visits between the two countries. President Asif Ali Zardari's state visit to China earlier this month, following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit in June of last year and Premier Li Qiang's visit to Pakistan in October, have underscored the deepening ties between the two nations. According to Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, these exchanges reflect the "ironclad friendship" and the enduring nature of the China-Pakistan "All-weather Strategic Cooperation." President Xi Jinping's talks with President Zardari and PM Shehbaz have been particularly pivotal, establishing a roadmap to advance bilateral cooperation amidst evolving global dynamics. A major milestone for this year is the 10th anniversary of President Xi's landmark visit to Pakistan in 2015. With the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan on the horizon next year, Ambassador Jiang emphasised the importance of these anniversaries in ushering the countries into a new phase of collaboration. Over the past decade, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has become a cornerstone of bilateral ties, bringing about transformative changes in Pakistan's infrastructure and development, Jiang Zaidong said. He highlighted several key areas of collaboration, including infrastructure, agriculture and economic zones, which will be prioritised in the coming year. Projects like the Karakoram Highway Phase II and the Main Line-1 railway, as well as the development of Gwadar Port, are set to take center stage, said the Chinese envoy. Ambassador Jiang highlighted that agricultural trade between China and Pakistan exceeded $1 billion in 2024, with Pakistan enjoying a notable surplus. The introduction of high-value buffalo dairy products from Pakistan to China further exemplifies the growing agricultural ties.
Express Tribune
20-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
China and Pakistan strengthen strategic partnership
Listen to article In a recent statement, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan HE Jiang Zaidong highlighted the significant strides made in China-Pakistan relations, especially in light of the recent high-level visits between the two countries. President Asif Ali Zardari's state visit to China earlier this month, following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit in June of last year and Premier Li Qiang's visit to Pakistan in October, has underscored the deepening ties between the two nations. According to Ambassador Jiang, these exchanges reflect the "ironclad friendship" and the enduring nature of the China-Pakistan "All-weather Strategic Cooperation." President Xi Jinping's talks with President Zardari and PM Shehbaz have been particularly pivotal, establishing a roadmap to advance bilateral cooperation amidst evolving global dynamics. A major milestone for this year is the 10th anniversary of President Xi's landmark visit to Pakistan in 2015. With the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan on the horizon next year, Ambassador Jiang emphasised the importance of these anniversaries in propelling the countries into a new phase of collaboration. Over the past decade, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has become a cornerstone of bilateral ties, bringing about transformative changes in Pakistan's infrastructure and development. With President Xi's strategic guidance, the CPEC is poised for further enhancement in the coming years, promising even greater economic growth for both nations. Ambassador Jiang stressed the need to focus on pragmatic, high-level cooperation to bolster China's and Pakistan's modernisation. He pointed to several key areas of collaboration, including infrastructure, agriculture, and economic zones, which will be prioritised in the coming year. Projects like the Karakoram Highway Phase II and the Main Line-1 railway, as well as the development of Gwadar Port, are set to take center stage. Agriculture is also emerging as a prominent field of cooperation. Ambassador Jiang highlighted that agricultural trade between China and Pakistan exceeded $1 billion in 2024, with Pakistan enjoying a notable surplus. The introduction of high-value buffalo dairy products from Pakistan to China further exemplifies the growing agricultural ties. Looking ahead, China plans to support Pakistan in modernising agriculture, particularly through joint projects, contract farming, and innovations in Xinjiang. On security matters, Ambassador Jiang reiterated President Xi's belief that security is integral to development. The two nations continue to enhance their security cooperation to safeguard the successful implementation of CPEC projects and ensure the safety of Chinese personnel and assets in Pakistan. Pakistan's continued efforts in counter-terrorism, along with China's unwavering support, will play a critical role in ensuring the peaceful advancement of bilateral projects. Furthermore, Ambassador Jiang underscored the importance of people-to-people exchanges in strengthening the friendship between China and Pakistan. The Chinese Ambassador pointed to several key initiatives, such as the opening of the Gwadar New International Airport, the success of the China-Pakistan Friendship Hospital, and ongoing programs to distribute health kits and train Pakistani personnel in modern agricultural practices. These initiatives are designed to enhance the lives of ordinary citizens in both countries and ensure that the benefits of development are shared broadly. In the realm of international relations, Ambassador Jiang praised Pakistan's active support for multilateralism, particularly through the United Nations. Both China and Pakistan are committed to promoting the interests of the Global South, resisting unilateralism, and working toward a more inclusive global governance system. As Pakistan holds a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, Ambassador Jiang sees increased opportunities for cooperation on global security and economic matters. As China and Pakistan continue to advance their strategic partnership, Ambassador Jiang expressed confidence that the two nations, through mutual cooperation, would help shape a better future for their people and the world at large. The continued strengthening of the China-Pakistan relationship, he noted, is essential in building a shared future of peace, prosperity, and mutual respect.
