Pakistan Railways Aims to Revitalize Freight Services to Boost Karachi’s Economy

Divisional Superintendent of Pakistan Railways, Mehmood ur Rehman Lakho, emphasized that Karachi manages a significant portion of Pakistan’s cargo. He suggested shifting cargo transport from roads to railways to mitigate the deterioration of Karachi’s road infrastructure caused by heavy vehicle traffic.

During a meeting at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Lakho stated that his visit aimed to explore methods to revitalize and enhance rail freight connectivity between Karachi and major commercial centers in Pakistan.

“Transitioning to rail freight is not only economically advantageous but also environmentally sound. Rail transport is substantially more fuel-efficient compared to road freight, leading to reduced carbon emissions, foreign exchange savings on fuel, and decreased strain on highways,” he noted.

The meeting was attended by Senior Vice President Zia ul Arfeen, Vice President Faisal Khalil Ahmed, Deputy Division Superintendent Operational PR Hamid Farooq Qureshi, Deputy Divisional Superintendent Rolling Stock PR M Ferhan Awan, along with other senior PR officials and KCCI Managing Committee members.

Modernization Efforts and Capacity Enhancements

The Divisional Superintendent highlighted Pakistan Railways’ modernization efforts in freight operations over the past decade. Between 2013 and 2015, the fleet was augmented with over 1,400 new hopper wagons, more than 2,000 high-capacity flat wagons, and 55 modern locomotives. These additions have significantly increased the payload capacity, from an average of 20 tons to 60 tons per wagon, enabling each train to transport over 4,000 tons of cargo.

Concerns over ML-1 Project Delays

The Divisional Engineer voiced concerns about delays in the implementation of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which was initially intended to revolutionize the country’s rail infrastructure. He pointed out that without ML-1, Pakistan Railways faces limitations in providing long-haul, high-speed cargo services across key regions.

Plans for International Rail Freight Services

Lakho mentioned Pakistan Railways’ plans to revive international rail freight services connecting Karachi to Moscow via Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. This corridor could unlock new export markets for Pakistani goods, especially textiles and industrial products.

Exploring Modern Logistics Models

Pakistan Railways is considering modern logistics models such as multimodal freight movement, dedicated industrial cargo trains for Karachi’s export sectors, and the introduction of Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) wagons. These wagons would allow loaded trucks to be transported directly by train, bypassing congested highways and reducing costs.

The department is prepared to collaborate with KCCI and its members to identify freight priorities and initiate pilot routes connecting Karachi with other major cities.

Business Community’s Perspective

Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG) Zubair Motiwala acknowledged the railway officials’ visit as a crucial step toward bridging the gap between Pakistan Railways and the business sector.

Motiwala emphasized that a robust freight rail network would greatly benefit Karachi’s industries, which currently face challenges due to slow inland movement of goods. He noted that rail transport is cost-effective, timely, safer, and more resilient than road transport.

President KCCI Jawed Bilwani stressed the urgent need to revitalize rail cargo operations as a strategic priority for Pakistan’s economy. He highlighted the inadequacy of Karachi’s road infrastructure to handle the country’s logistics burden.

Bilwani advocated for dedicated cargo trains to and from Karachi’s industrial zones and urged Pakistan Railways to explore operational models such as Roll-on/Roll-off wagons and the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) for freight.

He proposed a joint working committee between KCCI and Pakistan Railways to develop freight service pilots, align schedules with port timings, address customs clearance challenges, and ensure continuous engagement between stakeholders.