by : XENIA
TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN PAKISTAN
Economic and industrial development processes demand rapid as well as mass transportation of goods and raw materials. The more easily the passengers and goods get to the destination, the more rapid is the pace of development of the concerned country. The transport and communication systems need continuous expansion and maintenance of the network of railways and highways as well as the rolling stock. Modernization, updating, and replacement of the fleet of vehicles is an integral part of the development process, and if it is not so, it will be reflected on the pace of development.
TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN PAKISTAN
Transportation in Pakistan is extensive and varied but still in its developing stages and serving a population of over 170 million people. Construction of new airports, roads, and railway lines have lead to an employment boost in the country. Much of Pakistan's road network (National Highways) and railway network were built before 1947, mainly during the British Raj. In recent years, new national highways have been built, with the addition of motorways which has accelerated trade and logistics within the country. Airports and seaports have been built within the last 30 years with the addition of foreign and domestic funding.
1) RAILWAYS
Pakistan Railways is the state-owned railway company of Pakistan. It is a large organization under the administration of the Pakistani Government's Ministry of Railways. Pakistan Railways provides an important mode of transportation in the farthest corners of the country and brings them closer for business, sightseeing, pilgrimage and education. It has been a great integrating force and forms the life line of the country by catering to its needs for large scale movement of people and freight. The current chairman is Sami-ul-Haq Khilji.
HISTORY
In 1947, after Pakistan became an independent state, 1,947 route miles (3,133 km) of North Western Railways were transferred to Pakistan from British India.
In 1954, the railway line was extended to Mardan and Charsada, and in 1956 the Jacobabad-Kashmore 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge line was converted into broad gauge. In 1961, the Pakistani portion of North Western Railways was renamed Pakistan Railways. The Kot Adu-Kashmore line was constructed between 1969 and 1973 providing an alternative route from Karachi to northern Pakistan.
RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE
· The railway network comprises 8,163 km / 5,072 miles.
· Broad Gauge: 1.676-m gauge (5 ft 6 in) (2007-08) = 7791 Kms
Electrified track component 293 Kms
445 s* = Conversion of Meter Gauge and doubling of Mail Line track.
· Narrow gauge : 1.000-m gauge(3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) (2007) = 312 km
· Country comparison to the world:28
· Passenger earnings comprise 50% of the total revenue.
MAJOR ROUTES
The busiest routes include:
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/XPPRESP3/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image002.jpg[/IMG]
MAJOR STATIONS AND JUNCTIONS
The major stations and junctions between Peshawar and Karachi include:
Peshawar,Darya Khan,Mianwali,Bhakkar,Kaloorkot Nowshehra Jn., Attock city, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Lalamusa Jn., Gujrat, Wazirabad Jn., Gujranwala, Lahore, Lahore Cantt., Raiwind Jn., Okara, Sahiwal, Chichawatni, Mianchannu, Khanewal Jn., Multan cantt., Lodhran Jn., Bahawalpur, Samasatta Jn., Khanpur Jn, Rahim Yar Khan, Sadiqabad, Pannu Aqil Cantt., Rohri Jn., Khairpur, Bhiria Road, Nawabshah, Tandu Adam, Hyderabad Jn., Kotri Jn.,Jangshahi, Landhi Jn., Karachi Cantt. and Karachi City.
The major stations and junctions between Peshawar and Quetta are:
Peshawar to Rohri Jn. (same as above), Sukkur, Shikarpur, Jacobabad Jn., Dera Murad Jamali, Sibi Jn., Ab-e-Gum, Mach Spezand Jn and Quetta.
MASS TRANSIT
The Karachi Circular Railway, which opened in the early 1940s, is the only functioning Mass Transit System in Pakistan as of date. In 1976, Karachi was slated to begin work on an underground metro system, but plans have been put on hold since. Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) is a Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) which was approved by the Government of Pakistan on September 4, 2009 for the city of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. $1.53 billion KCR project finally approved had been under consideration since 1976.
Lahore Rapid Mass Transit (LRMT) System is a project envisioned to provide rapid transit facilities to Pakistan's second largest city Lahore. The project is expected to complete in 2020. Lahore Rapid Mass Transit System will become the second rapid transit system in the Pakistan, after Karachi Circular Railway. System length is 152 km (14 mi).
INTERNATIONAL
Iran –
A broad gauge railway line runs from Zahedan to Quetta, and a standard gauge line is finished from Zahedan to Kerman in central Iran, linking with the rest of the Iranian rail network. On May 18, 2007, a MOU for rail cooperation was signed by Pakistan and Iran under which the line will be completed by December 2008. Now that the rail systems are linked up at Zahedan, there is a break-of-gauge between the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways standard gauge tracks and Pakistan Railways broad gauge.
India–
Thar Express and the more famous Samjhauta Express international trains from Lahore, Pakistan to Amritsar, India.
Afghanistan –
Currently there is no rail link to Afghanistan since no railway network is present in that country, however Pakistan Rail has proposed to help build a Afghani Rail Network in three phases. The first phase will stretch from the Chaman to Spin Boldak in Afghanistan. The second phase will extend line to Kandahar and the third phase will eventually connect to Herat. From there, the line will be extended to Khushka, Turkmenistan. The final phase would link 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) gauge with Central Asian 1,520 mm (4 ft 11 5⁄6 in) gauge. It is not clear where the break-of-gauge station will be. The proposed line will also be connected the port town of Gwadar via Dalbadin and Taftan, thus connecting the port town to Central Asia.
China –
There is no link with China however, on February 28, 2007 contracts were awarded for feasibility studies on a proposed line from Havelian via the Khunjerab pass at 4730 m above sea level, to the Chinese railhead at Kashgar, a distance of about 750 km.
Turkey –
A Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad passenger rail service was proposed recently. Meanwhile a container train service was launched by the Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousuf Raza Gilani between Islamabad and Istanbul on 14 August 2009. The first train carried 20 containers with a capacity of around 750 tons and will travel 6,500 km (4,000 mi) from Islamabad, through Tehran, Iran and on to Istanbul in two weeks' time.According to the Minister for RailwaysGhulam Ahmad Bilour, after the trial of the container train service, a passenger train will be launched.There are also hopes the route will eventually provide a link to Europe and Central Asia, and carry passengers.
Turkmenistan - via Afghanistan
TRAFFIC
1. PASSENGER
Passenger traffic comprises 50% of the total revenue annually. Pakistan Railways carries 65 million passengers annually and daily operates 228 mail, express and passenger trains. Daily, PR carries an average of 178,000 people. Pakistan Railways also operates special trains during occasions such as Eid ul Fitr, Eid ul Azha and Independence Day.
2. FREIGHT
The Freight Business Unit, with 12,000 personnel, operates over 200 freight stations on the railway network. The Unit serves the Ports of Karachi and Bin Qasim as well as all four provinces of the country and generates revenue from the movement of agricultural, industrial and imported products such as petroleum oil & lubricants (POL), wheat, coal, fertilizer, rock phosphate, cement and sugar.
On August 14, 2009 the first international container train from Pakistan to Turkey via Iran at Islamabad Railway station was inaugurated. The first train carried 20 containers with a capacity of around 750 tons and will travel 6,500 km (4,000 mi) from Islamabad, through Tehran, Iran and on to Istanbul in two weeks' time. According to the Minister for RailwaysGhulam Ahmad Bilour, after the trial of the container train service, a passenger train will be launched. There are also hopes the route will eventually provide a link to Europe and Central Asia, and carry passengers.
FUTURE OUTLOOK
In order to continue improvements and to consolidate reforms, Pakistan Railways is struggling to
increase its competitiveness, responsiveness and efficiency. Pakistan Railways is planning to take a series of interlinked initiatives as discussed below, which will enable it to compete effectively in the fast growing transport sector in Pakistan.
---Pakistan has already completed pre‐feasibility study for establishing a rail link with China. This rail link could further boost trade relations between the two countries by facilitating the already growing trade with China and operations of Gawadar Sea Port.
---Pakistan Railways has signed contract with Chinese supplier for the maintenance of Chinese locomotives to improve reliability and availability of locomotive.
---Pakistan Railway is encouraging private sector to bring rolling stock for running of passenger and freight trains by paying track access charges.
---A contract agreement for procurement and manufacturing of 202 Nos. coaches has been signed.
---Another on‐going development project is the doubling of tracks from Khanewal‐Raiwind (246
Km).
--Doubling of track will be completed from Chichawatni to Okara stations during the period under review.
Pakistan Railways has finalized loan agreements for various projects for improvement of operation on the system and letter of credit are being established for the various projects.
2) ROAD TRANSPORT
Roads have become the most important segment of transport sector in Pakistan with ever increasing
reliance on road transportation. In 1947, reliance on roads was only 8%, however, the roads now carry
over 96% of inland freight and 92% of passenger traffic and are undoubtedly the backbone of Pakistan’s
transport sector. From only around 50,000 km in 1947, Pakistan’s current road network is now more
than 260,000 km. This includes NHA network of around 12,000 km, which despite being merely 4% of
the overall road network takes 80% of Pakistan’s commercial traffic.
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/XPPRESP3/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image004.jpg[/IMG]
ROAD NETWORK
Pakistan’s road network is vital for the movement of people and goods and plays an important
role in integrating the country, facilitating economic growth and reducing poverty. Pakistan has
a road network covering 259,618 kilometres including 179,290 KM of high type roads and
80,328 KM of low type roads. Total roads, which were 229,595 KM in 1996‐97, increased to
259,618 KM by 2009‐10 (Jul‐Mar) an increase of 13 percent. A sizable and continuous
improvement of the high type road network can be observed from 1996‐97 to 2009‐10.
National Highways
During the 1990s, Pakistan began an ongoing project to rebuild all national highways throughout the country specifically to important financial, cargo and textile centers. The National Highway Authority or NHA is responsible for the maintenance of all national highways in Pakistan.
- The Makran Coastal Highway follows the coast of Sindh and Balochistan provinces, linking Karachi and Gwadar. Journey time has been reduced to six or seven hours with the construction of the new Coastal Highway. The highway was built as part of an overall plan to improve transport facilities in southern Balochistan. Total Length = 653 km.
- The Karakoram Highway is the highest paved international road in the world. It connects China and Pakistan across the Karakoram mountain range, through the Khunjerab Pass. Total Length = 806 km
- The Grand Trunk Road (commonly abbreviated to GT Road) is one of South Asia's oldest and longest major roads. For several centuries, it has linked the eastern and western regions of the South Asia, running from Bengal, across north India, into Peshawar in Pakistan. Today, the Grand Trunk Road remains a continuum that covers a distance of over 2,500 kilometres (1,600 mi).
- TheSilk Road is an extensive interconnected network of trade routes across the Asian continent connecting East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean world, including North Africa and Europe. It passes through the mid section of Pakistan through cities: Peshawar, Taxila and Multan.
- N-25 Extends from Karachi to Chaman via Bela, Khuzdar, Kalat and Quetta .Also known as RCD Highway. Total Length = 813 km.
· N-55 Extends from Karachi to Peshawar via Kotri, Shikarpur, Dera Ghazi Khan and Kohat .Also known as the Indus Highway. Total Length = 1264 km
Motorways
The construction of motorways began in the early 1990s with the idea building a world class road network and to reduce the load off the heavily used national highways throughout the country. The M2 was the first motorway completed in 1998, linking the cities of Islamabad and Lahore. In the past 5 years, many new motorways have opened up including the M1, M3.
- Total: 257,683 km
- Paved: 152,033 km (including 339 km of expressways)
- Unpaved: 105,650 km (2001)
- Vehicles on road: 4.2 million vehicles 250,000 commercial vehicles (2004 estimate)
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/XPPRESP3/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image006.gif[/IMG]
3) LOCAL Transport
In urban areas there are several means of transport available, catering to a wide range of budgets, including motorbikes, rickshaws, and buses. Motorbikes and scooters are popular vehicles used by many people to move around cities. They are easy to travel on and less stressful compared to cars and buses. The law requires motorbike or scooter riders to wear a helmet. Over the last few years, the number of brands and varieties of motorbikes and scooters has substantially increased to suit all budgets and sizes.
1. BUSES
Within cities, buses provide a significant role in commuting a large population from one point in a city to another. There are two main owners that are able to run bus services: government or private. Since 2000, the government has taken a comprehensive initiative to modernize the existing bus fleets and minimally impact the environment. This public-private enterprise would gradually introduce 8,000 CNG buses throughout the country and 800 buses in Karachi. This venture will ensure high standards of efficiency and cleanliness.
Bus service in urban areas and between cities is well established with services run by both public and private sectors. Bus services like Daewoo Express, Kohistan, Khan brothers, Skyway and Niazi Express have set up modern intercity service in Pakistan which connects to most cities in Pakistan and runs 24 hours a day.
· International
International bus services are also well established in Pakistan and connect to various countries:
2. AUTO RICKSHAWS , TAXIS AND CARS
Auto rickshaws are a popular method of traveling in cities and are found in almost every city and town in Pakistan. The Punjab Government decided in 2005 to replace two-stroke three-wheelers with CNG-fitted four-stroke rickshaws in Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Gujranwala. Three manufacturers were ordered to produce 60,000 four-stroke vehicles, but they reportedly supplied 2,000 to the government which were now plying on city roads. Similar ordinances are now being considered in other provinces of Pakistan. Another very common sight seen mainly at hotels and airports are yellow taxis.
Over the years, the number of cars on Pakistani roads has tripled. The most popular cars on Pakistani roads are, Suzuki Mehran, Suzuki Cultus, Suzuki Alto, Suzuki Bolan, Daihatsu Coure, Hyundai Santro, Honda Civic, Honda City, Honda Accord, Toyota Corolla and Toyota Vitz., Pakistan's first manufactured car, was developed to meet the needs of low income families.
3. TRADITIONAL
In the small towns and farms, many people decide to walk great distances to either get to work or to walk to their nearest grocery store to get their daily shopping. The donkey and cart, locally known as the Reyri, The House & Carriage, locally known as Tangahs are mainly seen used for casual travelling around the city.
4) AIR TRANSPORT
All public airports are run by Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, with the exception of Sialkot International Airport which is run by the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry. All military airbases are run by the Pakistan Air Force, with the exception of Dhamial Army Airbase which is run by the Pakistan Army.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Airports 148 (2010)
Country comparison to the world:38
Airports - with paved runways: total: 101
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 47
Heliports: 20 (2010)
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/XPPRESP3/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image008.jpg[/IMG]
PAKISTAN CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY (CAA)
Civil Aviation Authority is responsible for the promotion and regulation of Civil Aviation activities and
development of infrastructure for safe, efficient, adequate, economical and properly coordinate air
service in Pakistan. CCA plays an important role in the development of a country’s economy by providing
fast and efficient access between different parts of the country as well as different destination around
the world. Private participation on this front has been encouraged through concession and incentives for
development of airports and airlines to increase the availability of air transport services both
domestically and internationally it is important to construct and maintain airports in the country to
facilitate economic activity in an increasingly globalize world. The following major new/existing airports
air being constructed by CAA currently.
i) New Benazir Bhutto International Airport (NBBIA) at Islamabad
ii) New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA)
iii) Up gradation of Multan International Airport
iv) Expansion of Peshawar International Airport
PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE (PIA)
The airline industry provides services to virtually every segment of the country and plays an integral role
in the development of economy. The airline industry itself is a major economic force, in terms of both its
own operations and its impacts on related industries such as trade and tourism.
The year 2009 was worst for the airline industry. According to IATA, passenger demand all over the
world declined by 3.5 % and it is expected that industry will post US $ 11 billion losses. Although there
was some relief on the fuel bill but the passenger and freight demand continued to disappear because of
economic recession and airlines faced over capacity.
PIA reduced its losses by Rs.30.3 billion to Rs.5.8 billion during the year 2009 compare to same period
last year. The reduction in losses was mainly due to reduction in cost and increase in revenues. The main
contribution to the loss of Rs.5.8 billion includes foreign exchange translation loss of Rs.6.7 billion on US
$ dominated fleet loans/lease obligations and finance cost of Rs.9.2 billion.
5) WATERWAYS
The waterway network in Pakistan is in its infancy with Karachi being the only major city situated next to the Arabian Sea. Still plans are being proposed for the development of the waterways in the country along the Indus River and through the Punjab as it would boost employment opportunities and the economic and social development of Pakistan. See a list of dry ports and sea ports in Pakistan.
· Gwadar is located on the southwestern coast of Pakistan, on the Arabian Sea. It is strategically located between three increasingly important regions: the oil-rich Middle East, heavily populatedSouth Asia and the economically emerging and resource-laden region of Central Asia. The Gwadar Port was built on a turnkey basis by China. Opened in spring 2007 by then Pakistani military ruler General Pervez Musharraf, in the presence of Chinese Communications Minister Li Shenglin, Gwadar Port is now being expanded into a naval base with Chinese technical and financial assistance. Gwadar Port became operational in 2008, with the first ship to dock bringing 52000 tonnes of wheat from Canada. Minister of Ports and Shipping Sardar Nabil Ahmed Khan Gabol officially inaugurated the port on 21 December 2008.[2]. China has acknowledged that Gwadar’s strategic value is no less than that of the Karakoram Highway, which helped cement the China-Pakistan relationship. Beijing is also interested in turning it into an energy-transport hub by building an oil pipeline from Gwadar into Chinese-ruled Xinjiang. The planned pipeline will carry crude oil sourced from Arab and African states. Such transport by pipeline will cut freight costs and also help insulate the Chinese imports from interdiction by hostile naval forces in case of any major war.
Commercially, it is hoped that the Gwadar Port would generate billions of dollars in revenues and create at least two million jobs.[3] In 2007, the government of Pakistan handed over port operations to PSA Singapore for 25 years, and gave it the status of a Tax Free Port for the following 40 years. The main investors in the project are Pakistani Government and People's Republic of China. China's plan to be engaged in many places along oil and gas roads is evident.[4]
· The Port of Karachi is Pakistan's largest and busiest seaport, handling about 60% of the nation's cargo (25 million tons per annum).
The port is located between the towns of Kiamari and Saddar, close to the heart of old Karachi, the main business district, and several industrial areas. The geographic position of Karachi places the port in close proximity to major shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz. The administration of the port is carried out by the Karachi Port Trust which was established in the nineteenth century.
- The Port Muhammad Bin Qasimalso known as Port Qasim, is a seaport in Karachi, Pakistan on the coastline of the Arabian Sea. It is Pakistan's second busiest port, handling about 35% of the nation's cargo (17 million tons per annum). Port Qasim and Karachi Port, the busiest port of country, together handle more than 90% of all external trade of Pakistan.
- Pasni is a medium-sized town and a fishing port in Gwadar, Balochistan, Pakistan. Its population is around 33.000 [1]. It is located on the Makran coast on Arabian Sea about 300 km from Karachi. Administratively, Pasni is the headquarters of the Pasni sub-division of Gwadar district that includes Pasni and Ormara Tehsils (tehsil - county) as well as Astola Island which lies 40km ESE of Pasni, in the Arabian Sea. The city of Pasni is itself administratively subdivided into two Union Councils.
6) PIPELINES
- Length of pipelines for crude oil is 2,011 km (1,250 mi).
- Length of Petroleum products pipeline is 787 km (489 mi).
- Length of Natural gas pipelines is 10,402 km (6,464 mi).
The above information was calculated in 2009
__________________
Shabdon mein kya tareef karoon aap ki MUSSAA
Aap shabdon mein kahan bandh payenge.
Kabhi mere aankhon mein jhaank kar dekho,
Hazaron alfaz khud-b-khud bikhar jayenge.
|