Faisalabad, Sialkot, Multan, Lahore chambers of commerce should join us to conduct their business in larger national interest: Khawaja Saad Rafique
LAHORE: Federal Minister of Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique has said that Pakistan Railways has upgraded its infrastructure at the Dry Port including Pram Nagar, Lahore Dry Port and others to a great extent and business community should use cargo and freight trains for the transportation of their consignments from Karachi on comparatively reduced fair charges.
He was addressing a gathering of businessmen at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and industry here at the other day.
“Since the last 4 years Pakistan Railway improved its service to a significant level and the business community has also played important role in uplift of Railways. The Railways is entering into the next phase of its long term development strategy of Pakistan Railways.
“Come do business with us,” he urged the business community, adding that Pakistan Railways has transformed an entirely changed organization as right man for the right job has been ensured, Saad Rafiq, said, adding that Railways earned Rs 36 billion last year while it has set to achieve a target of Rs 41billion during the current year.
He pointed out that Pakistan Railways cannot privatized but private and public partnership can prove a win-win situation for both Pakistan Railways and the business community
“We have 290 locomotives in working condition available for transportation of goods and articles from Karachi to any city of Punjab while the number of the locomotives would further be enhanced to 340 in the next year,” he said.
He also disclosed that Pakistan Railways has evolved twenty years planned to make state of the art Railways.
“Faisalabad, Sialkot and Multan and Lahore chambers of commerce should come join us to conduct their business in larger national interest. Bring your consignment through Railways from Karachi as we have made a great progress during the last four years.
“We have upgraded our infrastructure at the Pram Nagar and Lahore dry port to a great extent besides we can provide you service for the transportation of goods and article from Pakistan to Iran from Quetta to Taftan and Turkey as well,” Khawaja Saad Rafique said.
“A moderate government in India is a must to increase bilateral trade with India through Wagha Border,” the minister said, adding that Pakistan Railways can provide 25 to 30 percent less fair rates to the businessmen,” he shared.
Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Abdul Basit lauded the progress made by the Pakistan Railways under the leadership of Khawaja Saad Rafique.
He said that service charges at all dry ports should be uniformed to facilitae tarder and industrialist and the due to the very fact revenue of Pakistan Railways will be enhancing to a great extent.
LCCI senior vice president Amjad Jawa, vice president Nasir Hameed Khan and a large number of businessmen were present on the occasion.
Amjad Ali Jawa and Nasir Hameed Khan were of the view Pakistan Railways is one of the largest institutions of the country as it is the most important source of passengers and industrial goods movement across the country. It is estimated that annually over 65 million passengers travel while petroleum products, oil, wheat, coal, fertilizers, cement, sugar and thousands other items distributed through Pakistan Railways but despite having utmost importance, Pakistan Railways is far behind as far as latest technologies are concerned.
