PESHAWAR: The Divisional Superintendent of the Pakistan Railways, Peshawar, Ali Mohammad Afridi, has said that operation of Azakhel Dry Port from January 15, 2016 is impossible.
Talking to Customs Today, he said that the PC-1 of different schemes of Pakistan Railways, costing Rs 1022 million, including Rs.227 million project of Azakhel Dry Port Project, had been submitted with Planning Division on April 2015. The project is still awaiting for the approval.
He said that after getting approval from the Planning Division, they will initiate work on the construction of infrastructure, including widening of road, crossing levels, tube-well and HS Tank, sheds, officials and other facilities.
Furthermore, he said the site, which is in the possession of World Food Programme (WFP), which will return it to Pakistan Railways on December 31, 2015 and then work on the PC-1 would be started and shifting to it could also be considered.
He was of the view that without the provision of facilities included in the PC-1 of the scheme, the operationalizing of Azakhel Dry Port will be impossible.
It has a worth to mention here that Collector, Customs, Peshawar, Qurban Ali Khan during a recent visit to the site of Azakhel Dry Port has directed the operationalizing of the new facility by January 15, 2016. However, the officials of Pakistan Railways and business community are terming it impossible as the provision of the facilities in new dry port will take some time.
