PAKSTRAN Project (CIU) consultative workshop of stakeholders

Sameer Nazir
KARACHI: Coordination between relevant institutions and stakeholders is crucial for the promotion of sustainable transport in Pakistan.
During the first day of activity delegation was engaged in a stakeholder consultative workshop which highlighted the objective and achievements of trucking component of PAKSTRAN Project. The participants including transporters and traffic police personals gave practical recommendations for the improvement of transport sector in Pakistan.
In this regard a diverse group of relevant stakeholders physically visited and observed the operations of Karachi Port Trust and freight transport since two days.
It was beneficial in streamlining the environmental and economic aspects attached with the truck freight sector in Pakistan through identifying the gaps and future collaborative opportunities.
The participants visited selected truck manufacturing company at Karachi during their visit, the activity aimed to enhance the knowledge and understand the role of trucking freight from sea port towards international borders and give practical exposure to apprehend the linkages of public-private partnership for the development and modernization of trucking fleet system in Pakistan.
CIU-Trucking is one of the Component Implementing Units (CIU) of PAKSTRAN Project which is being implemented by Ministry of Communications and is working for improved fuel efficiency in truck freight transport in Pakistan
Earlier, Hameed Akhtar Chief NTRC & Director (Roads), Ministry of Communications & Component Director CIU-Trucking while briefing seminar highlighted the importance of Pak-China corridor for development of the country. He also mentioned that PAKSTRAN project team is committed to improve the transport sector by taking initiative of modernization of truck freight sector.
On the occasion, Dr. Muhammad Saleem Janjua, a renowned environmentalist and National Project Manager of PAKSTRAN Project said that while focusing on the socio-economic dimensions we should not ignore the environmental aspects attached with the Truck freight sector in Pakistan.
He further said that the initiative of exposure visit at provincial level is an important and appreciable activity of PAKSTRAN Project. In order to achieve the objectives of the Project, engaging all the relevant stakeholders is a pre-requisite.
During a session at Karachi Port Trust, Rear Admiral Habib-ur-Rehman Qureshi, General Manager (Operations), Karachi Port Trust (KPT) briefly shared the facts and figures related to Karachi Port Trust. Discussion on the subject highlighted the significance of modernization of freight system to increase the economic competitiveness of Pakistan at regional and global levels.