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How to revive PR
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Visits
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Visits
20
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May 25, 2012
Pakistan has a golden opportunity to revive its moribund railways, only if policy-makers use wisdom and withstand pressure from powerful quarters. It’s almost a certainty that the NATO supplies will be restored and once again transportation from Karachi to Torkham, or Karachi to Chaman and onwards into Afghanistan will become necessary.
In the last decade this transportation has relied on the road transport and that has resulted into 600 container plus heavily laden duty trucks moving along Pakistani highways. This has put a strain on Pakistani road infrastructure. Also the movement and stoppage points of these trucks have become a major security concern. Not only these were targets of the terrorists, but also many times these were attacked and looted by the miscreants. Also importantly the major contract for shipment was with the NLC that did not have its enough vehicles; it was sub- contracting it to the private parties, further increasing the chances of a security lapse.
Pakistan has an alternative that can help resolve many of these issues, but again that alternative can only be used if we have a plan. Railways is the answer; let’s examine that possibility.
Pakistan Railways is currently facing a lot of problems because of paucity of resources and mismanagement. But on the positive side, it has an infrastructure from Karachi to Torkham border. Unfortunately, the precious infrastructure of strategic importance is in a shambles particularly from Peshawar to Torkham because of non-usage. It is a known principle of Railways that goods trains earn profits whereas passenger trains only meet running costs. The basic reason for the collapse of Pakistan Railways is suspension of its goods/cargo transport in spite of presence of the required infrastructure and manpower.
If negotiations with the US and its other partners build in the aspect that NATO supplies should be carried by Pakistan Railways and that the US/NATO supply latest locomotives on loan and installments and these loans may be paid from the transportation charges, Pakistan railways can be restored within months. If smart negotiations are done, these engines may be acquired interest-free or at a lower interest rate. This would also resolve the ongoing conflict between the acquisition of Chinese and Americans locomotives without any hard feelings on the part of Chinese, as they would be beaten by a sound financial proposal.
A train reaches Peshawar from Karachi in maximum four days using Karachi-Multan-Kundian-Darya Khan- D.I. Khan-Peshawar route because Multan upward this route has minimal railway traffic. An ordinary truck on the other hand takes more than double time to reach Peshawar. A train has capacity of carrying 70 containers (Average weight 22 tons each) in one go. That means movement of 10 trains can put off 700 heavy trucks from the Pakistani roads in a single day.
Additionally, it is much easier to provide security cover to a train than dozens of trucks. There used to be regular security check posts on the railway track. Some additional resources can man these posts to avoid untoward incidents. Simple mounting of jammers on trains shall rule out wireless controlled lEDs etc. In addition to direct advantages this would have a positive impact on our fuel import bill because fuel consumption of one train and spare parts costs would be far less as compared to 70 trucks.
Hypothetically speaking, if the entire transportation goes to Pakistan Railways, the containers may be scanned and sealed at the port and appropriate security may be ensured throughout the travel. It is much easier to secure a train than dozens of trucks. In financial terms, if Pakistan charges a tax of $1500 or plus, with 600 containers moving, it means at least one million USD per day. With that sort of additional and guaranteed revenue, in two years Pakistan Railways would have paid back the price of around 150 new engines.
Even if half of the freight moves with Pakistan Railways, Pakistan can reap the advantages of this strategy. But our leadership will have to play its card smartly. There will be some pressure from private sector players, but they can get their pie from Torkham or Chaman onwards to Afghanistan.
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