A comprehensive and integrated National Transport Policy (NTP) will be developed during 2007-08. The sources of Ministry of Communications, mentioned that an allocation of Rs9.3 million has been made for continuation of research programme and work on the Pakistan Transport Plan Study and National Transport Policy.
Meanwhile, an allocation of Rs19 million was made for National Transport Research Center (NTRC), against which an expenditure of Rs7 million could be incurred giving a utilisation of 37 percent.
Due to late arrivals of expatriate staff on the projects for Pakistan Transport Plan Study and National Transport Policy the work started at belated stage, which is the main reason for low utilisation. Work on research and ongoing studies/projects continued. The NTRC is endeavouring to develop a National Transport Policy, which would be a milestone in achieving an integrated and holistic approach towards the improvement of country's transport system and logistics thereby strengthening the economy.
Furthermore, an allocation of Rs14 million has been made for establishment of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Cell in Ministry of Communications. The Cell would be instrumental in expediting the pace of work in the organisations working under Ministry of Communications, such as NHA, NH&MP, CMTI, NTRC and Post Offices.
The sources of Ministry of Communications pointed out that the transport development programme 2007-08 would be based on a broad strategy that will include establishment of a multi-model transport system; an emphasis on asset management with consolidation, upgrading, rehabilitation and maintenance of the existing system; enhanced private sector participation in sector development and institutional capacity building, with research and development and use of modern technology, procedures and processes to increase sector efficiency.
The strategy also takes into account the regional and domestic dimensions, particularly in relation to rail, road, ports and shipping sub-sectors, enhancing regional connectivity to improve links to the central Asian states, Iran, Afghanistan and India.
During the period, ways and means to improve the transport planning, prioritisation and rationalising public sector expenditure and mobilisation of resources from users and the private sector and other institutions governance reforms would be explored.
An integrated and holistic approach would be adopted for making transport system more productive, efficient and reliable, which may lower the transport costs and enhance the productivity in the economy.
Ministry planned to revitalise the Railway by transforming it into a commercially oriented entity, while retaining the railway network in public ownership. Development of port infrastructure and rationalisation of port charges is envisaged to cater to trans-shipment through the landlord port concept with enhanced private sector participation. Likewise rationalisation of airport charges and the development of airports through the private sector are also planned. Benchmarking will be carried out and performance indicators would be developed for each of the sub-sectors to assess progress against envisaged targets.
An allocation of Rs60 billion has been made for the development programme of the T&C Sector. This includes Rs29.4 billion for the budgetary programme and Rs29.6 billion for the budgetary corporations program (NHA).
National Highway Authority (NHA) sources mentioned that an allocation of Rs29.6 billion has been made for the national highways programme. Main thrust of the programme is aimed at the acceleration of work on the rehabilitation and dualisation of National Highway (N-5) on different sections, Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway (M-1), Makran Coastal Road, Karachi Northern Bypass, Layari Expressway, Islamabad-Muzaffarabad Road (N-75), Mansehra Naran-Jalkhad Road, Nutal-Sibi-Dhadar Section (N-65), Ratodero- Shahdadkot-Khuzdar Road, Qilla Saifullah-Loralai-Bewata Section of (N-70), D.I.Khan-Mughalkot Section (N-50), Realignment of N-65 near Dera Allahyar and Jaccobabad & Bridge on River Jhelum at Azad Pattan, Lowari Tunnel, Gwadar Ratodero Road (Khuzdar-Khori, Ratodero-Quba Saeed Khan & Gwadar Turbat), Hoshab-Panjgur-Nag-Baseema-Surab (450 Km long section) & the remaining portion of the Indus Highway (N-55) (Sehwan-Dadu, Dadu-Larkana, Rajanpur-D.G.Khan & Malana Junction-Sarai Gambila Sections). In addition, work will be initiated on the improvement of N-65 from Jaccobabad bypass to Shikarpur, Quetta-Kalat-Chaman road, Quetta Western bypass, Jhalkhad Chilas Road, and the National Highway Development Sector programme and NWFP Road Sector programme. Procurement of land is planned for additional carriageway from Faisalabad to Khanewal (M-4).
Projects on Lodhran Khanewal section of N-5, Peshawar Northern bypass, Lakpass Tunnel and Rawalpindi bypass projects would be undertaken on BOT basis. The projects will increase the total kilometer of national highway network and contribute towards smooth and safe flow of vehicular traffic on the national highway network.
NHA sources said that the development of a new expressway corridor in Phase-I being one of the vital components of the National Trade Corridor initiative, the route alignment of expressways would be finalised during the year. Under Phase-II, a new motorway corridor on the west of Indus touching Balochistan would be developed as a long-term measure.
It is envisaged to develop industrial clusters, oil storage facilities and oil and gas pipelines along the proposed motorway and expressway corridors. These initiatives would open up new vistas and avenues of trade with China, Central Asian Republics, India, Iran and even with Western countries.
A major step under the NTC initiative is the restructuring of Pakistan Railways on commercial lines. The Railways would be transformed into a corporate entity making profitable business through its core activities. Railways Business Plan is being prepared and a professional CEO would be appointed to run the Railways. Seven fast freight trains have already been introduced from Karachi to Lahore/Faisalabad and back. The other important initiatives include finalisation of track access policy for private sector and outsourcing of container transportation.
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