PESHAWAR: The business community has demanded of federal government to restore the service of export cargo train between Peshawar and Karachi.

This demand was made by a team of businessmen led by Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry` standing committee chairman Ziaul Haq Sarhadi during a meeting with the divisional superintendent of railways, Masood Ahmad Jan, at his office on Thursday.

Mr Sarhadi said on the occasion that traders were assured at the time of inauguration of Azakhel dry port that one window operation would be started at the facility and an export cargo train would be launched for transportation of goods between Karachi and Peshawar.

However, he said that the promise was not materialised in letter and spirit so far. He said that currently all export goods were transported from Peshawar to Karachi in private trucks.Mr Sarhadi, who is also coordinator of Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI), said that all the export items should be transported from Peshawar to Karachi in cargo train from Azakhel dry port instead of private trucks.

He said that shortage of facilities had created many problems for the exporters of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He added that the province had various items for export including gems, marbles, granite, handicraft, carpet, honey and matchsticks.

He said that Azakhel dry port was almost non-functional owing to which more than 250 custom clearing agents in the province had no work to do. He said that Pakistan Railways could also earn a handsome amount by launching the cargo train.

Mr Sarhadi also appreciated a decision taken by Pakistan Railways regarding revival of Awam Express train from December 20, 2023 for passengers travelling between Peshawar and Karachi.