New dry port: Pakistan Railways launches freight services

At inauguration of dry port, 60 container freight trains reached dry port from Karachi, containing different goods.

LAHORE: Pakistan Railways has started freight train services from a newly constructed dry port that will not only facilitate industry in the Lahore region but will also help the railways to overcome budget deficit.

The Express Tribune has learnt that initially two freight trains will run for goods and material transportation and the number will be increased when new locomotives are purchased.

At the inauguration of the dry port, 60 container freight trains reached the dry port from Karachi, containing different goods. The flagship dry port project and freight train service is a 35-year-long joint venture of PR and private partners with a total cost of Rs1,729 million.

The project covers approximately 140 acres of land that has been provided by PR, located near Prem Nagar station in the Lahore-Sahiwal section. In the joint venture, PR is responsible for the provision of land, road access and infrastructure, while the private sector will provide the facilities of handling, storage, stuffing, de-stuffing and custom clearance of containers.

Collaboration between PR and the private sector will be on a build, operate and transfer basis and all port-related assets will be reverted to PR on completion of the period of collaboration.

Pakistan Railways Chairman Shahid Hussain Raja said that PR is taking special measures to increase freight train services because of its financial potential. He added that the government has announced a Rs11 billion bailout package for the corporation.

He said PR has planned to spend Rs6.1 billion on maintenance of 145 locomotives, Rs2 billion each on rehabilitation of tracks and coaches while Rs1 billion would be reserved for future use.

Raja underlined that freight trains are worth more to PR than passenger trains due to which the number of freight trains will be increased when new engines are added to the railways system.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^t, 2011.