PESHAWAR: The business community has demanded of the Pakistan Railways to immediately abolish the Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) 121 and also asked for making fully functional the Peshawar and Azakhel dry ports.

The demand was made by Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) president Faiz Mohammad Faizi during a meeting with railwaysw divisional superintendent, Karachi, Mazhar Ali Shah and DS Peshawar Nasir Khalili on Wednesday.

Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, chairman SCCI dry port and standing committees on railways, Zarak Khan, president Hayatabad Industrialists Estate Association, and others were also in attendance.

Mr Faizi said railways was the most effective and safe source of transportation so it should be used for import and export on urgent basis. He urged the Pakistan Railways to resolve the issues of the business community on a priority basis.

The SCCI chief said PR could play effective role in exploiting vast investment and trade opportunities in carpet, honey, furniture, match, handicraft and marble sectors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He added that supply issues via bonded carries should be resolved on priority basis.

Ziaul Haq Sarhadi said owing to wrong policies about 70 per cent trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan was being carried out via Bandar Abbas and Chahbahar ports of Iran. He called upon the Pakistan Railways to take measures for supply of goods under the Afghan transit trade as well as import and export of goods between Peshawar and Karachi. He also demanded abolishment of SRO 121.

He also said a cargo train should be launched from Peshawar to Karachi.

Mazhar Ali Shah and Nasir Khalili assured the members of business community that their issues would be resolved on immediate basis and hoped that the Dargai and Charsadda routes would soon be made functional to give boost to trade activities.

The officials said PR was taking measures to improve services for revival of trade. They also assured of abolishing SRO 121.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2019