Boosting trade: Pakistan Railways plans to establish dry port in Nowshera

Officials meet KPCCI epresentatives, invite business community to help.

PESHAWAR:

Pakistan Railways (PR) has again decided to establish a dry port in Azakhel, Nowshera under public-private partnership. However, the business community has expressed doubts over the plan.

“Investors have accepted the proposal and are ready to invest in the dry port, but the authorities have to show seriousness towards the project and provide maximum facilities for them,” Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KPCCI) President Zahidullah Shinwari told The Express Tribune on Friday.

A series of meetings have been held over the past two days in this regard between the KPCCI and officials of the Pakistan Railways.



PR Chief Traffic Manager Altaf Husain met KPCCI President Zahidullah Shinwari on Thursday and invited the business community to help the government in setting up the dry port.

Hussain insisted Pakistan Railways was getting back on track and officials were working towards the restoration of the system around the country.

Additionally, railway authorities have finalised the feasibility report and informed traders tenders would be issued through national newspapers, adding whoever wins the tender would be facilitated in the construction of the dry port. Pakistan Railways would also provide 30 acres of land in Azakhel to the private sector on contract for 35 years for the construction.

K-P’s business community seems eager for a dry port equipped with modern facilities, but is still doubtful of the government’s commitment to the project because the one that already exists in Peshawar has not been looked after. As a result, it is unable to satisfy the growing requirements of traders.

Forgotten promises

Peshawar’s dry port was constructed in 1986 on a temporary basis and the then railways minister promised a full-fledged port would be constructed soon. However, 27 years have passed and the promise still remains to be fulfilled.

Previous governments have twice tried to establish a dry port in Azakhel, but failed both times to allocate funds for the purpose. During his tenure, former chief minister Sardar Mehtab Khan Abbasi had announced 64 acres and Rs20 million for the project, but it never materialised.

Later, former chief minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti also announced Rs20 million for the project and yet work never began.

“Just like previous times, nothing will come out of these efforts as well,” said Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, the chairman of KPCCI’s Dry Port Standing Committee. “If the government was serious in the implementation of such projects, it would not have invited businessmen to construct it.”

According to Sarhadi, private businesses only operate for profit, but making profit from the port seems impossible under the current circumstances, which is why the project would fail.

“Because of the railways’ lack of engines and locomotives, the existing dry port is almost deserted and local traders prefer to do business in other cities,” Sarhadi pointed out.

The chairman urged the government to improve the conditions of the dry port in Peshawar until the new one in Azakhel is constructed. He added more freight wagons should be made available for the Karachi to Peshawar route in order to develop Pak-Afghan trade.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12^th, 2013.