LAHORE: The Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul freight train operation, which has been resumed in December 2021 after a pause of around a decade, appears to be slowing down as none of the exporters has so far booked any consignment for the 7th train despite a lapse of over 30 days.

The massive delay in the arrival of the trains in Turkey, damage caused to goods en-route, quarrels among the freight forwarders on charges, lack of ownership allegedly on the part of Pakistan Railways (PR) and other administrative and technical issues are the reasons behind slowing down of the ITI train operation, Dawn has learnt.

“What will you do when your goods, which are supposed to reach Turkey within 17 days or so under a commitment, take much more time to reach the destination safely. That is why the composition of the 7th ITI train has not been made so far due to the low interest of the traders despite passing over 30 days,” a source privy to the development deplored while talking to Dawn.

“It shows that the business community has no more trust in the ITI train operation,” he added.

No trader has so far booked any consignment for the 7th train

The first ITI train carrying goods (mainly pink salt) had reached Turkey within 13 days -- a couple of days before its actual arrival schedule. Similarly, the second train carrying 550 tonnes of load (soapstone and other goods) moved from Azakhel dry port on Dec 28. It also reached Turkey on Jan 17 after which the loading of the third train started. And that also moved to Turkey during the last week of January this year. It, despite the harsh cold weather, reached its destination during the third week of February with a delay of around 10 days.

“But the real problem occurred when the 4th ITI train carrying various high-value goods in six containers left for Turkey during the first week of March. It first remained stuck at Taftan railways station within Pakistani territory due to customs clearance and quarrel between Pakistani and Turkish freight forwarders over share in the charges received from the exporters then at Zahedan. And finally, it reached the destination on May 21 after a delay of around two months,” he said.

About the 5th train, the source said, it was also delayed due to an accident near a station in Balochistan. The accident not only caused damage amounting to Rs4-Rs5 million to the goods but also delayed their arrival in Turkey for almost 45 days. “As on July 10, this train was about to reach Kapikoy (entrance gate of Turkey). Similarly, the 6th train is currently in Zahedan and waiting to be transferred to the Turkish standard gauge wagons,” the official said.

He said in such a [lopsided] train operation, who would bother to send goods to Turkey. And this is why the composition of the 7th train is yet to be made due to no booking of goods,” he added.

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2022