Businessmen call for efficient transport system

Say it will lower transport cost, improve competitiveness of regional countries

The development of an efficient transportation system within the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) region would lower transport costs and improve overall competitiveness of regional countries, said Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Vice President Shaikh Sultan Rehman.

Speaking at a meeting of the specialised committee on transportation of the ECO Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ECO-CCI) on Tuesday, he stressed the need for governments of Central Asian countries to work towards this objective.

Rehman emphasised that the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) cargo train project should be implemented by completing the rehabilitation and construction of missing links in the existing railway routes.

He urged member countries to implement the ECO Transit Transport Framework Agreement (TTFA), which would drastically reduce transportation cost and improve transport services through harmonisation and modernisation of transit transport.

“Implementation of the TTFA will facilitate movement of goods and passengers, ensure safety of cargo, eliminate unnecessary delays during transit traffic, end customs fraud and tax evasion, and harmonise the necessary administrative affairs in the region,” he said.

He called for opening the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran (KTAI) corridor for passenger rail service as well. At present, the corridor caters solely to cargo trains for trade purposes.

During the meeting, Specialised Committee Convener Baber Iqbal highlighted the issues faced by Pakistan in the wake of Covid-19, which affected its border and air cargo trade.

He also discussed the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which would spark prosperity and development in the region by providing a transit route to Central Asian countries through Pakistan.

They were of the view that operationalisation of the Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) Convention, also called the International Road Transport Convention, would help reduce the cost of transportation and enhance competitiveness of the region.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2020.

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