Transport and

Telecommunication:
By: Daood Aqeel
Problems of Rail-Transport:
The Network of Railways have deteriorated over the years due to:

● Lack of Investment
● Worn-out rails and sleepers
● Inefficiencies in timings
● Overstaffing and corruption
● Uneconomic stations
● Poor reservation system
● Shortage of passenger coaches
Development of Pakistan’s Railways:
● Replacement of steam engines with diesel engines
● Introduction of faster trains from Karachi to Lahore
● Electric Traction on 289 km from Lahore to Khanewal
● Construction of the Karachi Circular Railway

Recent Developments:

● Several New services have been launched on different routes increasing

revenues
● Efforts being made to conducta railway track to Gawadar
● Ticketing system being computerized and the reservation system being
improved
● One window ticketing system
Aims of Establishing Dry Ports:
● To reduce the workload at Karachi Port and port Qasim in order to speed ip
the checking and clearance of cargo
● To help the government in the smooth collection of revenue
● To reduce the pressure on exporters and importers by providing hassle-free
transportation of cargo from their production point to the seaport directly
● To stimulate foreign trade activities in those cities which are far away from the
seaport
A dry port requires certain infrastructure facilities:
● Highly efficient rail transport with a container service to carry bulky goods
● Efficient managerial staff
● Huge storation sheds and open areas
● Refrigeration facilities for perishable items
● Faster than rail or road and the most effective mode of transportation for high
value, light weight goods
● Air Transport make the areas such as where roads aren't metalled due to
landscape accessible
● Industrialization therefore increasing the general living standard
● Improvement in communication
● Foreign exchange through export
Air Transport:
Benefits of Developing The Transport System:

● Expansion of trade through bringing additional buyers and sellers and contact
with each other
● Rural and Urban areas come and contact
● Creates Employment opportunities.
● A rise in GDP
● Opening of new markets
● Specialization of products to be exported
● Rise in the living standard of people
● Industrialization
● EPZ
Benefits of Telecommunication:
● Makes distant learning possible
● By bringing more information in the classroom
● Training of primary teachers
● Increase the pace of Industrial development through the speedy transmission
of information
● Speedy access to information on new technology and the possibility of
importing it without delay
● Speedy access to new marketing opportunities and market trends
Problems of Disadvantages of Developing
Telecommunication:
● Any faults in internet services can make the industry non-functional
● Decreases Employment opportunities
● Easy access to some websites may harm local culture
● Load shedding and power breakdowns slow the work in offices
● Has some strong resistance to the older Generations
● IT and Computers are capital Intensive goods which are quite expensive
when used on a large scale
● Have to be Imported
Government Plans:
● More Widespread provision in Pakistan if the Infrastructure needed for
telecommunication.
● Establishment Internet Centres such as cyber cafes at Major Airports,railway
stations and petrol pumps
● Encouragement of Educational Channels on TV
● Investment in education and training so that Pakistan has sufficient highly
trained IT professionals at different levels, IT professionals are being brought
in from abroad to improve the Standard of Training
● Encouragement of software industry
● Providing incentives
● Promoting the export of Software