The government should link Faisalabad with the Main Line (ML)-1 of Pakistan Railways for safe and speedy transportation of consignments to seaports and to upcountry borders, said Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) Senior Vice President Imran Mahmood Sheikh.
Speaking at a meeting of the FCCI Standing Committee on Railways on Tuesday, Sheikh revealed that the city had a single railway track to link it with Khanewal and Shahdara, which gave it access to the main railway line. He pointed out that the chamber would consult with the government and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority chairman to include the city in the proposed mega project of ML-1.
“Faisalabad has emerged as a major industrial, commercial, business and export hub of Pakistan,” he remarked.
On the occasion, Standing Committee Chairman Mirza Hadyatullah highlighted that ML-1, ML-2 and ML-3 railway lines had been proposed under CPEC to link Peshawar with Karachi via Multan.
Under this mega project, 720 railway level crossings would be replaced with 2,445 small and big overhead bridges, he said, adding that in some places underpasses would be constructed with fences to discourage the movement of people on railway tracks. Faisalabad had been ignored in the project, although a large number of industrial units were being established by the Chinese in the city, he lamented.
“They need direct link with ML-1 for movement of their import and export consignments,” he added.
A railway level crossing near Chenab Mills had been closed permanently, which was causing problems for the industrialists and the general public, he highlighted and demanded immediate reopening of the crossing.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2021.
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