FPCCI calls for making Azakhel Dry Port operational

The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has called for making the Azakhel Dry Port operational, increasing the number of railway bogies and allowing of the use of loose cargo for transportation of the Afghan transit trade goods from Karachi seaport.
These proposals were presented by a delegation of the FPCCI Regional Office that called on the Divisional Superintendent of the Pakistan Railways, Faiz Ahmad Khan, said a press release issued here on Tuesday.
The delegation was led by the Coordinator of the FPCCI for KP, Sartaj Ahmad Khan, and it included the Convener of the FPCCI Standing Committee on PR and Dry Port, Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi, and Imtiaz Ahmad Ali.
The FPCCI delegation discussed problems relating to Goods in Transit to Afghanistan (GITA) and called for the activation of the Azakhel Dry Port and transportation of goods brought under the Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) from Karachi to Azakhel Dry Port.
The FPCCI delegation declared the available railway bogies insufficient and demanded increase in their number to facilitate transportation of both imports and exports from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to build the confidence of the local business community in Pakistan Railways.
The delegation also proposed the launching of freight train services for transportation of goods from the industrial estates to the sea port and to help promote the exports of gems, marble, honey, herbs, safety matches and other items from the province.
Such a service, they said, would not only minimize the problems of business community but it would also generate employment opportunities.
Talking to the DS of Pakistan Railways, the FPCCI Coordinator Sartaj Ahmad Khan called for the restoration of Khyber Train Safari and train services to Mardan, Dargai and dual-carriage tracks from Rawalpindi to Kohat to promote tourism and business activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Sartaj Ahmad Khan further said that the FPCCI would soon hold a meeting with the federal government and authorities of the Pakistan Railways to discuss with them the problems faced by the business community of KP.