Sameer Nazir
KARACHI: The Lasbela Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has demanded of the Minister of Railways, Khawaja Saad Rafiq to order work on laying railway lines between Karachi and Hub in order to facilitate about 50,000 daily commuters between the two cities. On the occasion of Chinese President’s viist to Pakistan, the President LCCI, Yakoob H Karim said that multi-billion dollar projects are being executed in the region with the support of China while laying of railway tracks and provision of other infrastructural facilities are being ignored. He said that laying of railway tracks and introducing railway link between the two strategically important cities would also generate Pakistan Raiwalys’ income significantly as about 50,000 passengers mostly skilled labour work in Hub industrial area and commute to Lasbela on daily basis.
He said that considering the importance of Lasbela District due to its being the gateway to the Free Port of Gawader, the Lasbela Chamber had proposed to the Ministry of Railways for laying a railway track from Karachi to Hub and starting a passenger and goods train to facilitate the industries to reduce the cost of transportation of their workers and goods, thus reducing their cost of production. The railway authorities took up this proposal very seriously and an interdepartmental committee comprising the representatives of Railway, LIEDA and the LCCI was formed to study the technical and commercial aspects of the project. The LCCI provided the necessary commercial and industrial data to railway for their assistance in developing the feasibility. Since then no progress has been made by the railway authorities. The Chamber is confident that the start of train service between Karachi and Hub, Lasbela would provide an incentive for local and foreign investors to set up their commercial and industrial units in this region. He said that present minister for railways should take the lead to execute the historic project.
LCCI demands train service between Karachi and Hub
