LAHORE, July 23: A dryport will be established in Sheikhupura on railway land at Bhabrianwala between Chichooki Malian and Lahore. Railways director (operations) Naseer Zaidi told Dawn that options for the construction of the proposed dryport and container terminal were discussed at a meeting at the Pakistan Railways headquarters here. Presided over by PR additional general manager (freight) Ali Arif, the meeting decided to continue deliberations on the matter. However, it was decided in principle that the dryport would be established on 40 acres railway land.

Trust chairman Mian Yousaf said the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet had approved the dryport at Sheikhupura in principle and asked the Central Board of Revenue that the private sector should be engaged in negotiation on the proposal of the ministry of railways about the joint venture.

“We have been asking the railways to allow us to establish the dryport on its land for the last eight years. On their refusal, we acquired 30 acres and sought permission for the construction of the dryport. The railways then proposed that the dryport should be built on its land which will be considered as equity of the project in the joint venture with the Trust,” Mr Yousuf said.

The meeting was also attended by Railways AGM (infrastructure, business unit) Imtiazul Haq, Chief Traffic Manager (freight) Gulraiz Hashmi, Customs collector’s representative Asif Arif, Lahore Divisional Superintendent Shafqat Rabbani and Chief Traffic Manager (dryports) Mahmood Rashid.