LAHORE: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has ordered the preparation of a feasibility report for establishment of a ‘transportation hub’ at Multan Dry Port, instead of previously proposed site of Shershah railway junction to enable exporters and importers avail cheaper transportation facility as compare to costly ‘Bonded Carriage’.
Transportation of business goods consignments from other cities to Multan and its handling and clearance at Multan dry port is a costly affair now a days as trailers commonly called ‘bonded carriage’ charge high fares.
The chambers of commerce and industry Multan, Khanewal, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan had been demanding establishment of a transportation hub at Shershah junction since long and Multan Customs had also sent a proposal for transportation hub at Shershah railway junction in Multan.
However, FBR officials believe that transportation hub at Shershah junction Multan would involve additional expenses besides expenses on deputing extra customs staff.
Multan Customs Collector Sarfraz Waraich, when contacted, said that FBR has proposed dry port as the suitable site where customs staff, an National Bank of Punjab (NBP) branch and other facilities were already available and only one kilometre long railway track would have to be laid to make transportation hub operational there.
The FBR has also directed customs officials to consult representatives of chambers of commerce and industry and prepare feasibility report for transportation hub at Multan dry port.
