Connecting Pakistani Cities with Afghan's via Rail Link: MoU signed

ISLAMABAD (July 08 2010): Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to connect Peshawar-Jalalabad and Chaman-Spinbuldak sections through railway link. The agreement was signed by Federal Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmad Bilour and Minister for Finance, Afghanistan Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal on behalf of their respective governments.

Railway link will be laid between Peshawar and Jalalabad via Torkham to connect both neighbouring countries. Similarly, rail link will also be established through Chaman-Spinbuldak section. Informed sources in the Railway Ministry who attended the meeting told BR that feasibility study of the project will be conducted in nine months. However, feasibility study of 109 kms Chaman-Spinbuldak section has already been completed and waiting for NOC from the Afghan government to start work.

Sources added that Pakistan Railways is facing financial crunch and it is difficult for the organisation to finance the projects. The projects aim at serving the people of Afghanistan. Nowadays, most of the donors agencies including World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and G-8 forum are taking interest in facilitating Pakistan in its uplift efforts.

"We are trying to arrange money for the said project from these donor agencies, especially G-8 forum who have pledged to develop Afghanistan as Pakistan is facing financial crisis and is not in a position to carry out these projects by utilising own resources," sources maintained. The work on first phase of Chaman-Spinbuldak section measuring about 10 kms to 15 kms will start as soon as the Afghan government issues NOC, sources added.

Pak-China Likely to Ink MoU for Rail Link

LAHORE: Pakistan and China will likely ink a MoU for rail link between Havelian and Khunjerab.

The General Manager Railways (operation) Ishfaq Khattak has immediately left for China to join the official delegation of President Asif Ali Zardari for this purpose.

Pakistan and China have already completed a pre-feasibility report for rail link. — File Photo

According to railways sources the GM operation left for China on Sunday for 12 days visit.

Pakistan and China have already completed a pre-feasibility report for rail link.

The total railway track would consist on 682 Km and there would be 20 railway stations at all major cities in Pakistani side, report revealed.

Chief Engineer Survey & Construction of Pakistan Railways told that the pre-feasibility report had completed by two international consulting companies including Ding Dona and ILF Consulting Engineering but no progress had made after 2004.

He said if two countries would be agreed for a MoU during the presidential visit an international consortium would be constituted for feasibility study and PCI.

After completing Havelian-Khunjerab track, China would link with Pakistan from Gawadar Port, he added.

Karachi Circular Railway Project: Senate Body Directs Stakeholders to Resolve Issues

Not much hopes with the initiation of this project .......... as work on this project was suppose to be started by the end of this year ........ & still the resettlement of the people has not yet started ....
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KARACHI (July 06 2010): The Senate Standing Committee on Railways has directed the concerned stakeholders to resolve issues pertaining to $1.58 billion Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project within 10 days. According to sources, the unresolved issues related to the KCR project were discussed in a meeting of the committee held here on Monday.

The meeting of the committee was held under the chairmanship of Senator Maulana Gul Naseeb Khan. Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Federal Minister for Railways, Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, Senator Abdur Rasheed, Senator Dr Khatu Mal and Senator Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi, Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Hyderi and Nauman Islam Sheikh, Parliamentary Secretary for Railways also attended the meeting.

The committee has also advised the Pakistan Railways to hold a joint meeting of all stakeholders of Karachi Urban Transport Corporation (KUTC) within 10 days for finalisation of all the pending issues and completion of formalities by July 30, 2010 and report to be submitted to the committee, they said.

Talking to Business Recorder, Ijaz Hussain Khilji, Managing Director, KUTC, said that all outstanding issues including the resettlement of the affectees of KCR project, which was needed to be resolved immediately were discussed. He said until the allocation of land and resettlement process were not started the practical work on the project could not be possible.

Responding to a question, he said that the re-lending of funds for the much-awaited project was also being discussed and it would also be resolved soon. Additional General Manager, Pakistan Railways, informed the committee that Pakistan Railway being the main shareholder has principally fulfilled all its obligations and remaining other modalities will be discussed with the government of Sindh.

According to sources, the Board of Directors of KUTC will also meet on July 14 to discuss the project and its outstanding issues. The presentation was made by MD KUTC after amicably resolving the dispute between Malir Development Authority and PR for clearing a location for the resettlement of thousands of affectees of KCR project, sources claimed.

Some studies have been done on this project like Environmental Impact Assessment Study (EIAS), resettlement action plan etc under the aegis of Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO).

The KCR project, started to mitigate traffic problems in this metropolis, was to be funded by government of Japan through the Japan Bank of International Co-operation (JBIC). Tokyo has commissioned 100 percent funding for the project under "Step Loan" at 0.2 percent mark-up rate for a 40-year payback time, including a 10-year grace period.

Strategy Devised to Improve Transport System: CM

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif presided over a high-level meeting at Chief Minister’s Secretariat, here Friday, regarding provision of modern transport facilities to the masses.

MPA Mehr Ishtiaq, Chairman Planning & Development, Secretary Transport, Chairman Lahore Transport Company and other officers concerned were present.

The CM said that provision of modern and comfortable transport facilities to the people is among the top priorities of the Punjab government and he wanted to see maximum buses on the roads of Lahore in the shortest possible time.

He said that an effective strategy has been devised for the improvement of transport system and investment in transport sector is being fully encouraged.

He directed that project of provision of 300 buses by investors should be implemented expeditiously and these buses should be plied in the city as soon as possible so that people should not face transport problems.

CNG Buses for Rawalpindi

Lets see will this become a reality ........... or just table talk and that's all
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RAWALPINDI: A meeting will be held on July 5 to discuss the implementation of the plan to introduce CNG buses for commuters.

The district administration is in the final stages of planning the project, which will provide public transport between Rawalpindi and Islamabad as well as Taxila, Wah Factory, Rawat, Adiala Road, Sihala, Karachi Company, Faisal Masjid and Secretariat.

The CNG bus project aims to provide better, cheaper and eco-friendly transport, especially for working women and female students.

The Punjab government will launch the bus service with the cooperation of the private sector. A subsidy of 15 per cent will be given to those private transports companies that will import Hino CNG buses and will also be granted a loan for seven years.

Furthermore, owners of the buses will get 20 per cent operational and five per cent capital subsidies. Private transporters have been invited to the meeting and will be issued permits within 24 hours for running their buses on choice routes.

Kazmi told The Express Tribune that the secretary transport had already approved the project and will chair the meeting for its implementation.

The launch of the new CNG buses is said to be environment-friendly and the step is aimed at improving transport services for the public.

The meeting was called by Captain (Retd) Muhammad Yusuf, secretary Punjab, and will be chaired by Secretary Transport Imdadullah Bosal. District Coordination Officer Asad Raza Kazmi, Secretary Regional Transport Authority, SP Traffic and other officials of the district administration will also attend.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30^th, 2010.

Karachi to have 400 CNG Buses soon

KARACHI: Karachi is about to have four hundred CNG buses on its roads as part of the government's policy to promote environment friendly public transport system.

Federal Minister for Environment, Hameedullah Jan Afridi talking to journalists following a seminar on Clean Development Mechanism here on Monday said subsidy of Rs 700,000 is being offered to introduce clean and green transportation.

"A total of 800 CNG buses have been procured for the country and required funding is in process by State Bank of Pakistan," he told the journalists.

In reply to a question he said the government has not taken into confidence the transport bodies about its scheme to introduce CNG buses.

"I do not think they should have any objection as the field is open and they too can participate in the bidding," he said.

The minister was confident that masses will appreciate the public friendly initiative that would offer clean, cost effective and efficient transport facility.

To another question, he said scarcity of gas is fortunately not an issue in the southern parts of the country.

Hameedullah Jan Afridi said a fool proof mechanism is also being introduced under which every vehicle will be required a thorough inspection on annual basis.

Mass Transit System Direly Needed for Twin Cities

Not only for Twin Cities, Lahore & Karachi .................. Mass Transit System are needed for all the Big cities like Peshawar, Quetta, Hyderabad, etc .............. Government should think of working on providing modern and good + respectable transport facilities .................... as by just simply big roads, plight of the common man shall not be overcome.
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The commuters of Rawalpindi and Islamabad continue to face a long list of problems in the absence of a mass transit system.

Overcharging, improper loading and off-loading of passengers, reckless driving, misbehaviour by transporters, violation of the women’s compartment and mid-route breaks have become routine.

While urban planners and government officials across the globe try to explore the possibility of next-generation transportation systems that are both commuter friendly and ecologically responsible, the twin cities have not been successful in this regard.

Many schemes were introduced, but because of stiff resistance by unions and owners of vans in Rawalpindi, could not be turned into a reality.

Most vulnerable in the absence of a proper transportation system are government servants who regularly travel to their offices during peak hours. A lot of people wait for the vehicle to arrive and then chase it to avoid getting late.

Ali Hussain, a government employee, said traffic jams in the twin cities during busy hours are taking place more frequently. “Traffic flow is often disturbed as everyone rushes to secure their seat, resulting in discomfort of others,” he added.

Another resident of Rawalpindi, Aqeel said, “The most serious problem is the unscheduled natured of public transport. Drivers stop their vehicles at bus stops for long hours waiting for more passengers, while those already seated get angry over the delay.”

A working woman Nosheen said that there are only two seats reserved for the women. “Most of the time, the two reserved seats are booked by a man or policemen,” she said.

While talking to The Express Tribune, Syed Asad Raza Kazmi Secretary Regional Transport Authority (RTA) said, “There are only 3,000 public transport vehicles for 3 million people of the two cities. This is not enough to meet the needs of the people.”

Even the number of private taxis is more than the public transport vehicles, as over 4,060 taxis are registered in Rawalpindi district only.

According to Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) officials, the number of traffic instructors who manage the flow of traffic is 600 in Islamabad and 800 in Rawalpindi. SSP Traffic Dr Sultan Azam Temuri said that ITP was making efforts to facilitate commuters.”There has been some improvement, however it will require more time,” he said.