KARACHI: Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry has suggested shift of bulk goods transportation from road to rail. Chairman KCCI Special Committee on Budget, Qamar Usman noted that more than half of trade deficit is on account of petroleum imports where 50 per cent plus of it is diesel.
He said that high import of diesel is because of the fact that 95 per cent of bulk goods transportation is done by road and road transport runs on diesel. Shift from road to rail will reduce diesel imports by one-third, if electrified by half. He argued that total railway debt of Rs 59 billion can be easily settled. If reforms are carried out on fast track basis, government could generate Rs 500 billion to settle circular debt. Transportation of goods through rail network can reduce import bill of diesel by 30-40 per cent.
