LAHORE: The government has approved an ambitious plan to upgrade and rehabilitate terminal facilities at the Railway Station Lahore and Dry Port of Mughalpura Lahore.
An official source of Pakistan Customs told Customs Today that the plan focuses on rehabilitation of existing tracks and civil works, improvement of goods handling facilities, establishment of new dry port and transit goods facilities at Lahore Railway Station soon. Pakistan Railways will coordinate with the custom department for this purpose, he said.
The new investment is required to make the Pakistan Railways ready to transport coal from Karachi port to Punjab. The poor infrastructure facilities at the terminals and dry ports are resulting in loss of revenue.
Now capacity wagon is carried out at Mughalpura which requires at least 30 days. These wagons are hauled empty to Lahore and returned empty to Karachi. This loss of time results in loss of millions of rupees to the Pakistan Railways and Pakistan customs as well.
Government is also planning to enhance facilities at badami bagh railway station customs sources said to customs today. The existing condition of the brick masonry floor of goods shed is in shambles being 100 years old. The existing CGI sheet roof of goods shed has completed fretted and stacked goods have destroyed during the rains.
Infrastructure facilities of the Lahore Dry Port are old and outdated. The operational capacity is adversely effect due to insufficient handling facilities for goods. During rainy season the condition of container yard becomes worst and area cannot be used for clearance and booking of consignments.
The approaching roads to container yard are in unserviceable condition which disrupts expeditious movement of vehicles loaded with containers.
While talking to an importer, he said that Pakistan customs and railways can improve the facilities in lahore specially at Mughalpura dry port which will increase the revenue of Pakistan customs. Trade activities will also be increased with this step but it should be taken soon je aded.
