October 09, 2008	Thursday	Shawwal 9, 1429

KARACHI, Oct 8: The Pakistan Railways is upgrading the Wazir Mansion railway station in view of growing trade activity.

It plans to lay more tracks to provide an infrastructure for the operation of an increased number of freight trains originating and culminating at this station.

At present, the PR is operating two freight trains on a daily basis to transport mainly coal, cement and clinker.

Plans are afoot to operate two more freight trains to transport coal to the upcountry destinations like Wah, Taxila, Usman Khattar, etc and to bring in cement and clinker from Daudkhel, Wah and Khairabad for export purposes.

Coal consignments imported from South Africa and Indonesia arrive at the Karachi port and then shifted to Wazir Mansion for transportation to their upcountry destinations.

Cement consignments meant for export are brought in from upcountry directly to the Wazir Mansion station and then transported to the port for shipment.

According to railway sources, about 2,000 tons of coal is transported from Wazir Mansion and about 1,200 tons of cement is brought to the station every day.—APP