Muhammad Saleem

The business community has called for launching a non-stop cargo service to facilitate cost-effective transportation of goods and generate revenues. They stress that improved railway connectivity can help promote trade between provinces and with neighbouring countries. Talking to WealthPK, Zia Hussain, a knitwear exporter, said that Pakistan was not utilising the full potential of its railways, especially the freight services.

“We must realise that railways are more than just metal tracks. They can connect farmers to markets, provinces to ports, and Pakistan to the rest of the world,” he said. “We need to address the existing issues and expand our railway system,” he underscored. “We need a robust transportation system to keep our consignments moving without delay,” he suggested. Zia Hussain said that most exporters would prefer to use Pakistan Railways to send their products to ports.

“However, several issues are preventing them from choosing this option.” Outlining the challenges, he said that trains are slow, and in many cases, goods trains fail to arrive on time. “Proper care of cargo is often lacking, and customers have often complained about receiving damaged products.” The knitwear exporter lamented that much of the country’s railway system remains outdated. “Railway lacks modern containers, and a digital tracking system is still unavailable for shippers.

If these issues are fixed, exporters will likely shift to rail, as it is a cheaper and more reliable mode of transport for bulk goods.” Khalid Mehmood, an office-bearer of the railways union, told WealthPK that the government was planning to privatise the railways, which was not a sustainable option, and called for overhauling the tracks and modernising the other functions of the railways, which he said was still the preferred mode of transportation for businessmen, traders, and even ordinary people.

He said that the privatisation of Pakistan Railways would deprive the people of an affordable means of travel and transport. “It’s not the railway workers but the bureaucracy that is tarnishing the department’s reputation,” he asserted. Zia Hussain, the knitwear exporter, advocated launching a non-stop cargo service to facilitate the business community and generate revenues. He said an improved Pakistan Railways will also encourage neighbouring countries to use it to transport their goods across borders. 

“Our railway system needs upgrades and efficient management to win back people’s trust,” he said. Mehmood, the office-bearer of railways union, said that the railway system is still a cost-effective and eco-friendly option to move goods. “Even though the system is decades old, it can still carry goods across long distances using less fuel than trucks and trailers.”

He said that upgrading the rail tracks connecting major cities —Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala, Multan, Quetta, and others —would help farmers, factory owners, exporters, and traders move goods quickly and safely. “Improving the railway system would also reduce pressure on roads, traffic jams, accidents, and contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment,” he said.

Credit: INP-WealthPk