KARACHI, Dec 27: The Union of Small and Medium Enterprizes (Unisame) has urged Pakistan Railways to reduce its freight rate per wagon to enable small and medium companies to export rice to Zahidan, Iran. In a communication to commercial manager (freight) Pakistan Railways, Lahore, President of Unisame, Zulfikar Thaver, said that many SMEs were getting export orders from Iran for shipments through railways.

However, on contacting the local PR office in Karachi, it was made known that the freight rate per wagon, with 24 tons capacity of rice, would be around Rs56700, which comes to around $950. However, if the same consignment is shipped by sea to the Iranian port of Banderabbas, it would cost only $575 for a 20 ft. This indicates that the PR freight charges are very high.

Mr Thaver urged the PR to reduce its freight rates for SMEs to enable them increase their exports to Iran and facilitate them in delivering goods to the Iranian cities near Zahidan.