PESHAWAR: Pakistan Railways plans to resume the freight train service from Peshawar to Karachi to facilitate the business community.

Railways divisional superintendent, Peshawar, Mohammad Nasir Khalili disclosed this during a meeting with representatives of business community held at the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Tuesday.

SSCI president Mohammad Ishaq, vice-president Ejaz Khan Afridi, railways divisional transportation/commercial officer, Peshawar, Anwar Saadat Marwat, divisional mechanical engineer Javed Shah and divisional assistant electrical engineer Jamilur Rehman were also present.

Mr Khalili assured to extend all possible cooperation to the traders to boost exports.

He said cargo train was a widely used medium for easy and quick transportation of import and export goods.

Mr Khalili noted that Peshawar was lagging behind compared to other cities as far as in handling of freight activity was concerned.

He said PR had designed a holistic plan for resumption of freight train service from Peshawar. He added KP potential sectors would be focused under the cargo train restoration plan.

He emphasised the need to use railway transportation service to improve trade and business activities to stabilise the national economy.

Earlier, SCCI president Mohammad Ishaq highlighted the problems being faced by the business community in transportation of their goods. He said railway was the most useful and fast means of transportation across the world as export and import consignments were easily and promptly carried out through it.

He said the SCCI would provide data and details of the potential sectors in order to resume cargo train service swiftly to facilitate trade activities.

Mr Ishaq said railways would earn huge revenue if the cargo train service was resumed.

He suggested giving the SCCI representation in the Railways Adviser Committee, which the railways officials assented to.

It is to mention here that operations of export cargo train from Peshawar Cantonment’s dry port had been closed for last about 17 years, while local exporters transport their goods to Karachi via private trucks.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2023