Those who attended were included Divisional Superintendent, Pakistan Railways, Peshawar Division, M. Syed Khawar Malik, Deputy Collector, Customs, Dry Port, Khiyal Mohammad, DTO (PR), Imran Mashal, Faiz Mohammad Faizi, Mazhar-ul-Haq, Arooj Ahmad Ansari, Numan-ul-Haq, Syed Kamran Ali Shah, Waheed Bacha, Mohammad Asif Jamal, Asad Bilal, Shakeel Ahmad and Azam Sharif.
Speaking in the meeting Senior Vice President, SCCI, Malik Iftikhar Ahmad Awan stressed need for reactivation of Pakistan Railways and provision of facilities to business community. He said that the lack of facilities in Dry Port is badly affecting both imports and exports from the city. He urged Pakistan Railways for entering into joint ventures with different countries including China to initiate measures for the revival of the organisation. He also called for seeking the services of private sector in this regard.
Chairman SCCI, Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi said that Pakistan Railways is passing through worst crisis of its history adding that the unavailability of locomotives and diesel had brought railway system to standstill in the country and the direct affectees are business community. He said that due to the prevailing crisis importers and exporters are carrying their import and export either through bonded carriers or private trucks.
He said that till the establishment of Dry Port at Azakhel, Pakistan Railways should provide facilities in present port and resolve the drainage and cementing problems with immediate effect. He also called for construction of new shades and running of special cargo train service from Peshawar. Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi requested Pakistan Customs for allowing the transportation of export bound goods to Karachi through private trucks along with bonded carriers.