Transportation and Communication sector in Pakistan

[munawaransari]

Transportation and Communication sector in Pakistan
The transport and communication are of basic importance in the development process of a country, and density of the transport network is an index to economic development. As compared with developed countries, Pakistan possesses a less developed transportation network. Government is making serious efforts to develop an efficient transport and communication network to meet the growing needs of the country.

Importance of Transport and Communication:

1. Economic importance
It promotes the internal and external trade, utilization of natural resources, mobility of labour, reduction in unemployment, increase in agricultural production, reduction in population pressure and elimination of starvation and hunger etc.

2. Political importance
It creates the political awareness in people, maintenance of law and order in society etc. It also helps bringing out the opinion of the masses.

3. Social importance
Linkage of people develops brotherhood and sense of unity, and this can stimulate economic activity within the country. It promotes the education across the country and provides the modern information by TV, Internet, radio etc.

Transport in Pakistan

1. Road
Road transport is most popular and it carries about 90% of the total passenger traffic. The country has about 248,340 kilometers of roads, of which more than 50 percent are paved. The rest are graveled or unimproved tracks. Road traffic is increasing to nearly overwhelming proportions, with mixtures of animal carts, high-speed cars, buses, and trucks. The principal roads of Pakistan are GT (Grand Trunk) Road, Super Indus Highway (N-55), Karakoram Highway (N-35), Makran Coastal Highway (N-10) and Motorway Projects (M1, M2, M3, M8, M9).

2. Railways
Pakistan's railways cover roughly 7,791 kilometers. Most are in the Indus Valley, from Karachi to the Punjab, with a few lines into the North-West Frontier and one westward across northern Baluchistan to the Iranian border.

3. Air
Pakistan is served by numerous international airlines as well as its own Pakistan International Airlines, which provides both international and domestic service. International airports are located at Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, and Lahore. Prior to the early 1990s the domestic airline industry was regulated by the state. After deregulation, several privately owned airlines began to operate in Pakistan. PIA has made remarkable progress. It began with a fleet of 15 aircraft. By 1999-2000, it had 45 aircraft. Today, there are three private airlines operating in the country____ Shaheen, Air Blue and Aero Asia.

4. Water
Ocean shipping is extensive through Karachi, on the coast of the Arabian Sea. The city's port handles more than 95 percent of all of Pakistan's imports and exports. The city of Qasim also has a port to handle a share of the country's trade. And government is also establishing new port, Gawadar port.

Communication

Communication plays an important role in the economic and cultural development of a country. Pakistan has following means of communication.

1. Postal Service
The Post office is a Federal Government entity which provides postal facilities through a network of 12828 (2178 urban and 10650 rural) post offices across the country. The department is providing various traditional postal services to the consumers at a reasonable price. It also provides the facility of life insurance, payment of military pensions, collection of motor vehicle tax, renewal of arms and driving licences etc.

2. Radio
Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) has played a pivotal role in promoting national interest by providing information, entertainment and education to audiences at home and abroad in 35 languages (19 regional, 1 sub regional, 16 foreign) from 24 Radio Stations and 5 FM Stations.

3. Television
First television station was introduced in Pakistan by a private television company, in November 26, 1964. In June 1967, it was converted into private limited company named as Pakistan Television Corporation Limited, with prime objectives to establish a Television Network in Pakistan for the provision of broadcasting news, documentaries, education and entertainment. There are two channels in the country namely PTV Home and PTV News. There are also operating 22 private TV channels across the country.

4. Telecommunication
The Telegraph and Telephone department was converted into Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation on 15th December 1990 for better telecommunication system in the country. On 1st January 1996, the corporation was recognized by establishing the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the National Telecommunication Operation (NTC) and Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL). PTCL has issued 60,000 telephone connections to its customers. 6 Mobile companies are operating their network in Pakistan under PTA. There are at least six crore people are using mobile phone in Pakistan.

5. Information Technology (IT)
IT has assumed unprecedented importance in the global economy. Government has accorded a very high priority to this sector. IT is one of the key determinants of competitiveness and growth of economy. For promotion of IT, above than 400 cities have been provided internet facility. Pakistan has established Software Technology Park at Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar. Currently, in 2006-07 Pakistan has earned 50 million dollars from software industry. The Ministry of Science and Technology has approved different projects which will be implemented in the next few years.


Pakistan enjoys good international telecommunications links via satellite. The availability of domestic telephone service improved in the 1990s as the utility was privatized. Cellular telephone service and Internet connections are
available though not widespread. Radio and television are controlled largely by the government.