Infrastructure and Transport News

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Rs 14 billion being spent on new roads ​

SIALKOT (June 16 2008): Punjab government is spending more than Rs 14 billion on the construction of new roads and widening of existing roads in the province. Official sources told Business Recorder here on Saturday that under the programme 600-KM long new roads would be constructed, while 700-KM long existing roads would be widened in various parts of the Punjab.

Sources also disclosed that existing 10 feet roads will be widened to 20 feet and 12 feet roads would be widened to 24 feet in the province. The step has been taken for the improvement of means of communication as well as to ensure hurdle-free and safe travelling facilities to the masses in the Punjab sources added.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

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Air Arabia to start daily flights from Karachi ​

Thursday, June 19, 2008

KARACHI: Air Arabia is looking forward to starting daily flights from Karachi to its hub in Sharjah besides adding Sailkot to its network of two existing destinations, which also includes Peshawar, a top airline official told The News on Wednesday.

The decision to enhance frequency and expand reach in Pakistan reflects UAE’s first budget carrier’s endeavour to capture the growing middle class in the Southeast Asian region, said Shalini Rajan, Regional Manager for Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Turkey and CIS countries.

“Income of people has increased and there has been a rapid growth in the number of new cost-conscious entrepreneurs,” she said, expressing confidence that rising inflation will not hurt the number of people traveling by air.

Air Arabia has grown phenomenally since its launch in 2003 as a low-cost carrier. In a span of just five years, it has carried seven million passengers and expanded the network to 41 destinations.

Despite continuous surge in oil prices, the airline has continued with its growth projection mainly because of its low-cost model. “We have managed cost ruthlessly,” said Ms Rajan, listing the measures taken in that regard. “We have single-model aircraft with all-economy configuration, our turnaround time is 45 minutes and there is no crew layover as none of the flights’ time period exceeds five hours.”

This, she said, has helped save expenses of crew staying in hotels. “Initially, a lot of people thought that the airline would not perform up to the mark. But against the expectations, our performance was very good and the airline started becoming popular.”

She said Air Arabia has created a lot of first-time flyers with its low fares. “So we have not only created a market for ourselves but a lot of upcoming budget carriers will benefit as well.” At times, the airline has charged fares 40 per cent below market cost.

The airline operates on point-to-point basis and its focus is on increasing frequency to existing destinations rather than expanding the network. It has established another hub in Kathmandu, Nepal, to serve the market of the Far East region.

Ms Rajan said airlines in Asia were struggling to sustain their business, threatened by high fuel cost and termed it one of the hindrances to mergers and takeovers.

Airlines around the world have been cutting costs in a bid to survive one of the worst periods for the aviation industry. In Pakistan, so far only one airline, Airblue, has taken the initiative to cut cost.

Air Arabia operates four and three weekly flights to Sharjah from Karachi and Peshawar respectively. It has a fleet of 15 aircraft and has 49 new aircraft on order.

Air Arabia to start daily flights from Karachi

 

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KPT achieves 25% record growth in cargo handling​

KARACHI: Karachi Port Trust (KPT) cargo handling has registered a record growth of 25 percent this year as KPT is handling over 101,000 tonnes of cargo daily and has crossed the figures of 37 million tonnes.

By the end of the outgoing fiscal year, KPT projects to handle 61 percent of the total container volume of 1.97 million (Twenty equivalent units-TEU) handled by the two ports, KPT and Port Qasim. The total sea trade handled by the two ports during the last 11 months stand at 58.10 million tonnes, of which the share of dry cargo exports at KPT remained 65.39 percent.

Liquid cargo has shown recovery and it is growing by 14 percent at Karachi Port. The Liquid Cargo export, which mainly comprises Molasses, Ethanol, Naphtha and other chemicals, has crossed the two million-bench marks by registering 2.02 million tonnes this year.

The dry cargo, coal handling at Karachi Port has reached 3.5 million tonnes. In exports, the cement handling, through bulk of bags, has crossed the two million tonnes mark. This is the first time in the history that Pakistan is exporting cement as a bulk commodity. Four silos are being constructed at the port which when completed would further increase the cement exports. KPT has also handled 0.9 million tonnes of clinker exports during the last 11 months, which is another record achieved by the port.

The Karachi Port so far has registered 11 percent growth by recording 1.149 million TEU handling till 12th June 2008. Previously, in year 2005-06, the KPT recorded handling of 1.144 million TEU containers. As regards the container terminals, both PICT and KICT have shown progress.

Presently PICT is handling 39 percent while KICT handles 50 percent of the total container volume. The remaining 11 percent are handled at another berths of KPT.

This year, up to 12th June, KPT has handled 2,024 ships. This commendable performance is despite the fact that eight berths at East Wharf were not utilized due to their reconstruction. Construction of 16 meters deep quay wall is already underway by a Korean company at East Wharf. KICT has installed two super post panamax gantry cranes to handle larger ships carrying 5,000 TEU containers. Recently, the KICT has handled 4,500 TEU containers from a Post Panamax Ship “Hyundai Admiral” at the berth.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

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Freight trains between India and Pakistan likely to increase ​

19 Jun, 2008, PTI

NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan agreed to work modalities for increasing the number of freight trains between them to boost trade as railways officials of India and Pakistan wrapped their three-day talks here on Thursday.

"Talks ended on a positive note," said a senior Indian Railway Ministry official.

"Freight operations between the two countries are likely to increase in the near future as both sides agreed to work out the modalities for the same," said the official.

Currently, there are only two freight trains operating in a day in Wagah-Attari border route between the two countries. "It is expected to increase to five," said the official.

The six-member Pakistan delegation which had come to India for talks met Railway Minister Lalu Prasad. The High Commissioner of Pakistan Shahid Malik was also present on the occasion.

Prasad impressed upon the need for increasing the movement of freight trains between the two countries in view of increased bilateral trade, especially India's import of cement whos domestic prices have been soaring.

He also emphasized on the need for opening up Munnabao-Khokrapar route between India and Pakistan for freight services.

While the Pakistani delegation was led by Shafiq Ullah, Director Operation, Pakistan Railways, the Indian side was led by R N Verma, Addlitional Member (Traffic), Indian Railways

Freight trains between India and Pakistan likely to increase - Politics/Nation-News-The Economic Times

 

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Work on Multan airport expansion to begin soon ​

MULTAN (June 20 2008): Work on the expansion of Multan airport will begin in the first week of July with an estimated cost of Rs 4.5 billion. The project will be completed in two phases within 30 months. All the Boeing and Haj flights would be diverted to Bahawalpur and a bus would shift passengers to Multan.

Civil Aviation authorities said that Rs 1.80 billion would be spent in first phase and the remaining amount would be spent on second phase. CAA authorities said that four flights could be landed simultaneously at Multan airport after completion of the project. A 1000-metre to 150-metre wide runway would be constructed and it would handle more than one million passengers besides handling the exports of vegetables, fruits and textile goods worth billions of rupees.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

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Spain, Pakistan update air service accord ​

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

KARACHI: Pakistan and Spain have signed a new air services agreement (ASA) which will allow unlimited number of passenger and cargo flights between the two states, said a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) handout on Tuesday.

Airlines of both countries can avail co-terminal rights on limited frequencies on any two points of call in each state. The code-share agreement has also been agreed.

Previously, ASA was restricted to operations of single airline with three weekly services to one destination in each country.

ASA talks held in Madrid have liberalized existing agreement allowing more space to the airlines to commence commercial operations.

Further ASA text has been modified in light of recently concluded horizontal agreement with European Union and bilateral agreement with UK.

The ASA is now in conformity with EC laws. National airlines can take advantage of this agreement and can launch new services for promotion of trade, tourism and people to people contact between Pakistan and Spain.

Spain, Pakistan update air service accord

 

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Two calibration aircraft arrive in Pakistan ​

KARACHI: Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan has purchased two new Beech-craft Superking B-200 aircraft equipped with state of the art flight inspections system.

The new aircraft landed at Jinnah international airport Friday form Germany.

The aircraft were received at the JIAP Terminal-1 by the Deputy Director General CAA, Air Vice Marshal, Sajid Habib, Chief of Calibration, Air Commodore Abbas M. Petiwala along with his team of pilots and engineers, Director operations, Syed Yousuf Abbas and Director Airworthiness, Engineer Ghulam Murtaza and other CAA senior officials. The induction of these aircraft will further enhance the capabilities of CAA to capture potential international market by providing quality calibrations of navigational landing and visual aids by utilising the latest flight inspection system.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

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Link between railways and Karachi Port discussed ​

Sunday, June 29, 2008

KARACHI: Karachi Port Trust chairperson Nasreen Haque held a meeting with Pakistan Railways General Manager Operations Asad Saeed and his team of officers at the KPT head office.

During a brief presentation given to the delegation, the KPT chairperson unveiled her plan about rail connectivity with the port and major cargo terminals. As a first step, the damaged railway track connecting TPX and Groyne Yard would be revived, stated a press release issued by the KPT.

The railway line would also be extended to the coal stacking area near Groyne Yard for direct loading from there. This will ensure prompt movement of import and export cargo from and to the port, which is presently hampered as it has to pass through the heavily-congested metropolis, facing acute traffic problems.

The KPT chairperson emphasised the importance of advanced planning by the railways in line with KPT plans for development of infrastructure and rolling stock, enabling proper logistics to cater for the present and future traffic.

The railways, being a bulk carrier and an economical mode of transport, has to gear itself up to promptly clear the port and bridge the gap between the port and the industry. The delegation praised the KPT chairperson for taking keen interest in railway connection with the premier port of the country. They exuded confidence in steps taken by the KPT chairperson and offered full support for prompt clearance of cargo from the port.

Link between railways and Karachi Port discussed

 

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Modern facilities to be provided to all airports: CAA DG ​

Sunday, June 29, 2008

SKARDU: Civil Aviation Authority Director General Farooq Rehmatullah has said most modern traffic facilities would be provided to all airports of the country.

It was disclosed by DG CAA at a foundation laying ceremony held here for the expansion of Airport terminal building. He said under the new aviation policy of CAA now, investors can construct their own airports, helipads and can purchase their own aeroplane and helicopters to promote tourism and to facilitate the passengers and tourists in the mountainous regions of the country.

According to the new policy everything would be tax free. Rehmatullah said expansion work of Skardu Airport would be started within one month and completed before winter season to facilitate incoming and outgoing passengers.

There would be new and most modern waiting places and car parking with sufficient space, he said, adding that the project would be completed with an amount of Rs45 million.

The CAA DG said the authority will welcome the private airlines in these areas to facilitate the international and domestic passengers as well as international tourists, trekker and climbers.

He said: “We are sending technical staff to Switzerland to make a survey and feasibility to see how flights are operated there during bad weather and in the mountainous regions so that we can follow modern techniques here in remote and mountainous areas of the country.”

The DG said planning is being made to install most modern equipments in the planes and also at the airports to facilitate flights.

He said taking off and landing fee would not be charged on PIA flights for Skardu by CAA and the benefit must go to the passengers of Skardu.

CAA has been restructured and made service-oriented department and being run professionally, he said and informed that other development and facilitation projects have been undertaken on various other airports of the country.

Modern facilities to be provided to all airports: CAA DG

 

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PIA begins Islamabad-Bradford flight ​

ISLAMABAD (July 03 2008): PIA is pleased to announce its flight operation to Leeds, Bradford, UK effective from Wednesday (July 2) The Islamabad-Leeds-Islamabad flight will operate twice a week every Wednesday and Saturday with convenient timings. PIA's Flight Operation on the said sector meets a long standing demand of the Pakistani community based in Leeds, Bradford.

The Leeds, Bradford Airport is conveniently located for Pakistani communities residing in the vicinity. The Airport is considerably, less congested than other major airports in UK, thus providing more efficient and prompt service, with PIA being the only non-EU airline providing direct service to points outside Europe.

UK is a very important market, with the Airline serving five cities; London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and now the Bradford/Leeds area. In its endeavour to provide the most efficient service to our communities residing in UK, PIA remains committed to providing flights between UK and Pakistan. PIA will now be operating 25 weekly direct non-stop flights to the five destinations in UK from Pakistan.

PIA's Managing Director, Captain Mohammad Aijaz Haroon sharing his views on the airline's flight operation from Islamabad to Leeds, Bradford said "PIA's Flight Operation on the said sector meets the demand of our customers in the Bradford and wider Yorkshire region as well as the airline's customers in Pakistan.

He further said that the launching of PIA's flight operation from Islamabad to Leeds, Bradford will provide additional travel services to its customers in addition to the airline's growing international network.

As part of the marketing initiatives being taken, more destinations will be added to the airline's network while increasing the frequency of its existing flights as per the market demand, offering enhanced services to its customers.-PR

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

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Plan to air-link Mirpur with rest of the world​

MIRPUR (July 09 2008): AJK government is contemplating to air-link Azad Jammu Kashmir's fast expanding model city of Mirpur with rest of the world through the establishment of an international airport in order to provide direct air travelling facilities to the people of Mirpur, official sources said.

Prime Minister Sardar Attique-led AJK government has already decided to establish an airline of Azad Jammu and Kashmir with the name of Kashmir Airline besides the emergence of a full-fledge international airport in Mirpur with the major involvement of the private investment, the sources told APP here Tuesday.

The proposed Mirpur International airport would provide direct air travelling facilities to the overseas Kashmiris, including UK-based settlers hailing from the area, to their ancestral town of Mirpur. A bright potential is already available in the area to materialise the plan, which would indeed, prove to be the strong source of the local economy of AJK, the sources added.

Highlighting various other development projects proposed to be launched in Mirpur under a phased programme during the current fiscal year 2008-09, the sources said that a mega Industrial zone was also being established over an area of 15,000 kanals of land in Mirpur for the speedy industrialisation of AJK. It would also help to encourage the economy of self-reliance in the area.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

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PNSC acquires modern, double hull oil tanker ​

Saturday, July 12, 2008

KARACHI: The Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) has acquired the first modern, double hull oil tanker named “MT Quetta”.

A statement issued here on Thursday said the vessel was handed over in Fujairah on July 10 and after loading crude oil, will arrive in Karachi on its maiden voyage under the PNSC flag on July 17-18.

It said MT Quetta is a May 2003-built, 107,215 metric tonnes deadweight double hull Aframax Oil Tanker, 247 metres long with a beam of 42 metres. The vessel has been purchased from M/s Stena Snowdrops of Bermuda, a concern of Stena Bulk (Sweden).

MT Quetta has heralded a new era in PNSC, an era of renewed commitment to modernisation, development and strengthening of PNSC, the statement pointed out. It said PNSC has been progressively growing over the years and MT Quetta is among the first of many things to come in, furthering this growth.

Extensive plans are underway for the modernisation of the PNSC fleet, with modern and versatile ships that can serve Pakistan’s trade, well. A plan for the replacement of the ageing fleet has been approved by the PNSC Board, which entails the purchase of two double hull tankers and two general cargo vessels in the financial year 2008/09.

PNSC has already started work on this and is searching for these ships in the international market. It is pertinent to mention that PNSC earned an estimated net profit of Rs2.3 billion despite the high cost of fuel and ageing vessels.

With the induction of MT Quetta and the addition of more vessels, PNSC’s net profit is anticipated to rise in the current financial year, it was further pointed out.

PNSC acquires modern, double hull oil tanker

 

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Measures to restore past image of railways​

KARACHI (July 11 2008): The newly appointed General Manager Pakistan Railways, Nasir Zaidi, Thursday vowed to restore the past image of the railways by taking various measures as part of the priorities he has set for himself to follow.

In an interview to APP after taking over the charge as General Manager Nasir Zaidi, who has vast experience on the operation side and held various important positions in the past, said that his foremost priority would be for safe railway operation by improving the tracks, the rolling stock and the signalling system.

He said that to ensure this, special measures would be taken which he has already started from today. GM Railway said that his most emphasis will be on improvement of infrastructure and specially to ensure train movements on their schedule timings which has greatly suffered after December 27 incident.

He said that presently the trains are running late on an average by 5-6 hours mainly because of repair work of track, which was uprooted by violent mobs on December 27.

He said that 13 stations between Karachi and Khanpur were closed after violence during which the signalling system between Karachi and Rohri had been totally destroyed and as a result, although the train operation was restored, but trains were allowed to move at cautious speed to avoid risks to travelling people.

Nasir Zaidi said that arrangements are being made on an emergency basis to restore signalling system as early as possible for which Rs 1.5 billion have been allocated by the Federal Government during the fiscal 2008-09 for repair and replacement. He said railway will carry out this work with its own technical know how.

GM Railway said that improved amenities for travelling people is also his important priority. He pointed out that railway's freight income has already increased by 18-20 percent as compared to the previous year and will go further up during the current financial year which will help reduce the gap between income and expenditure.

Nasir Zaidi informed that already railway is running eight freight trains as against seven earlier from Karachi for upcountry destination and now this frequency will be increased to 10 within two months.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

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PIA fails to offer B-747 on charter, wet lease​

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has failed to attract any offering for its Boeing 747-300 series aircrafts on charter or on wet lease.

The management of state-owned airline has offered its Boeing 747-300 series aircrafts for seven months period (February to August 2008) on wet lease, official source informed Daily Times.

A wet lease is a leasing arrangement whereby one airline (lessor) provides an aircraft, complete crew, maintenance, and insurance, to another airline (lessee), who pays by hours operated.

The lessee provides fuel, covers airport fees, and any other duties, taxes, etc. The flight uses the flight number of the lessee. Also, the lessor usually does the ground handling although this can vary from country to country. In some cases the lessee provides these services (or one of its partners). The then PIA management grounded its eight B-747 aircrafts including its two cargo fleets March this year, citing the reason of high fuel consumption. But, the present management has decided to utilise them for Umra operation.

According to the official spokesman, PIA is utilising its four B-747 aircrafts for Umra operations and one of the aircraft would also resume flights very soon.

PIA’s six Boeing 747-367 have a capability to carry 433 passenger and two other Boeing 747-240 Combis have capacity of 264 passengers and 30 tonnes main deck cargo capacity. The B-747 aircrafts are 12 to 15-year old aircrafts and consume 27 percent more fuel as compare to new aircrafts of B-777 series, despite these facts, it has also capacity to carry more passengers than B-777.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

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Airblue adds two new aircraft to its network ​

Friday, July 18, 2008

KARACHI: Private airline Airblue, on Thursday, announced that it had added two new aircraft to consolidate its international and domestic network.

Speaking to newsmen here at a luncheon meeting, Managing Director Syed Nasir Ali said the two Airbus 319 aircraft have been dry leased from an American airline which went bankrupt following an unprecedented hike in fuel prices. This new addition has increased the fleet strength of Airblue to eight aircraft. “Year 2007 was the year of consolidation for us. We were trying to face challenges of the rising fuel cost,” he said, recalling many airlines have succumbed to the challenge. “We definitely want to survive.”

He said domestic air traffic has dropped by 12 per cent as compared to last year because of higher fares. “Airblue has taken a number of initiatives to control cost. All our aircraft are configured economy class. We have replaced meals with sandwiches.”

Ali said the new aircraft will primarily be used on upcoming routes between Sharjah and cities in northern Pakistan. Service between Lahore and Islamabad will also start from next month, he added.

Asked how his airline will compete with low-cost Air Arabia that operates on the same routes between Sharjah and Pakistan, he said Pakistani passengers mostly preferred their own airlines.

He said initially, the airline intended to establish its service from Dubai but authorities of the emirates did not grant them permission. Airblue has also been seeking permission of Saudi authorities to start flights to Riyadh, he said, adding, “Saudi rulers are strict when it comes to private airlines.”

Airblue adds two new aircraft to its network