(31 Jan, 2018)
President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), President AKIA, Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI and former Provincial Minister Mian Zahid Hussain on Wednesday demanded for instant and immediate initiation of Inland Water Transport Project and call it as need of time.
Pakistan is the only Country across the globe having zero waterways despite 30,000 KMs of well developed Riverine and Canal System. Unfortunately the utilization of Riverine and Canal Systems in Pakistan for transporting goods and persons was never seriously cogitated. Waterways are of significant importance throughout the World.
The veteran business leader while talking to the business community said the apathy to develop waterways was a colossal failure to our planning system which requires needs to be redressed immediately. CPEC haulage of coal for power plants is expected to be 25 Million tons annually which desires the instant launch of waterways for goods’ transportation. Currently, Railway is a cheaper source of Coal transportation in comparison to road transport; however, Inland Water Transport is the cheapest source of transportation across the globe and will benefit trade, agriculture and industry with cheaper raw material.
If sincere efforts are not made in respect of immediate launch of inland water transport, Pakistan will not be able to get all benefits of CPEC launch despite of increased commercial and economical activities and will cause delayed economic growth of the country.
The role of Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Shareef and Private sector for their survey of Pilot project with the help of Pakistan Navy and efforts made for inland water transport project is appreciated however it is necessary that immediate measures for the launch of this project should be taken. Which will benefit the National Economy in all aspects whether it is industry, trade or agriculture and new investment opportunities will grow in the country.
