Karachi: Vice President of Pakistan Businesses Forum, Ahmad Jawad has lauded that Pakistan Railways (PR) launched a reefer freight train aiming to generate more revenue by providing economical freight solutions in the country and further demanded that they must lifted a Kinnow shipments in the ongoing season from Bhalwal too.
A first-ever by PR, the new operational phase began with one train a week with plans to operate twelve trains in a month. Railways eyes freight trains minimising the delivery time and reducing emissions to the atmosphere of greenhouse gasses.
“As more and more road-based reefer cargo finds its way to more economically and environmentally viable options. Pakistan Intermodal Limited (PIL) reefer block train system can generate billions of rupees annually in revenue for Pakistan Railways if the containerized freight trains are operated on schedule.”
The freight train, started in collaboration with Marine Group of Companies, departed from dry port of Marine International Container Terminal (MICT) Prem Nagar, Lahore and arrived at Wazir Mansion railway station in Karachi. It had carried 24 units – 40 feet reefers of CMA CGM Pakistan.
The cold chain solution was enabled by Pakistan Railways Freight Transportation Company (PRFTC) that facilitates the rail infrastructure operated by Pakistan Intermodal Limited (PIL) and CMA-CGM.
It may recalled here that Pakistan Businesses Forum had earlier demanded from the Ministry of Railways to introduce refrigerated freight cars to facilitate export of the Kinnow and other perishable products. The officials were also demanded that PR should also run a “Kisan Express” between Bhalwal, Sargodha and Karachi offering competitive freight rates.
PBF said currently majority private containers of the shipping companies have not given adequate refrigerated facilities to all the way to Karachi and Quetta just to save fuel and in result fresh fruit of Kinnow may receive quality damages till the time it shipped from the respective port.
As per the documents, Pakistan’s kinnow industry is worth around Rs125 billion. The entire economy of Bhalwal and Sargodha depends on this industry while about 250 processing factories located in the Punjab are providing direct employment to 2.5 million people.
PBF VP Ahmad Jawad told that during the kinnow season shipping companies fall short of refrigerated containers while some private containers of shipping companies lacked adequate refrigeration facilities which spoilt the fruit by the time it was shipped from the port.
He also projected a drop in kinnow exports on the back of soaring freight costs combined with reduction in output of the citrus fruit due to climate change.
“Kinnow exporters are in a state of immense uncertainty as export of the commodity during the current season is likely to be limited to 300,000 tons,” This is 35% lower than outward shipments of the fruit in the previous year.”
Highlighting that the kinnow export season was due to commence from December 2021.Similarly exorbitant hike in sea freight would discourage exporters to ship lofty amounts of citrus fruit abroad.
Due to this issue, outward shipment of the fruit from Pakistan to Russia, Canada, Ukraine, Indonesia, and the Philippines is projected to decline. He pointed out that these nations purchased 50% of exportable kinnow of Pakistan every year.
Last year, the export of the fruit clocked in at 450,000 tons against the export target of 350,000 tons.
