Means of Transport
Commercial Geography
Means of Transport
Introduction:
Transport and communication systems are vital to the economic health
of a country,and the density of the transport network is an index of
economic development.As the economy becomes more complex and
interlinked,adjustments and improvements must be made in the means of
transport and communication.Pakistan,is a relatively large country of
diverse topography.Development of Transportation network in the plain
areas is comparatively easy and economically rewarding.The reverse is
true of the mountainous areas and this fact is reflected in the present
in the present distributional pattern of means of transport and
communications.The density of the transportation pattern is very low in
the Northern and North-Western hilly areas and in the Baluchistan
Plateau.Vast tracts of land are either totally devoid of any modern
facilities or very inadequately served.The following means of
transportation are available in our country
i) Inland transportation(roads and railways) .(ii) Waterways (river and ocean transportation and (iii) Air transportation.
1. Inland Transportation
(A) ROAD TRANSPORTATION
Importance:
Road transport plays a vital roll in the economic development through
mobilization of human and material resources available in the economy
of a country.It facilities trade and opens business opportunities by
collecting goods from the producing centres and distributing them to
different areas where they are needed.It promotes foreign trading by
arranging the distribution of imported goods and collection of
indigenous products to be sent abroad it serves as a mean of creating
link between the urban and rural sectors and facilitates the movement of
the people all over the country.Such movements accelerate social
welfare of the people and help the government in maintaining law and
order within the country.It also facilitates the arrangement for
guarding the frontiers through mobilization of defence store and
personnel to the far flung border areas.It supports and compliments the
working of other transport systems.Such as rail,air and waterways which
have a limitation of not being extendable to every part of a country
and as such,their utility as means of mobilization of resources is very
much reduced.
Again,road transport does not require a huge investment and the return
of investment made in it not spread over a very very long period.Above
all,its maintenance cost is also comparatively very low and as such,its
development,improvement and expansion can be effected easily and
cheaply in comparison to other systems.
Road Transportation in Pakistan:
All the time Pakistan was created there was not much vahiculay traffic
on roads except bullock carts and other animal drawn carts .But today
the thronged with trucks,buses,station wagons,jeeps,cars
and motorcycles.National logistic cell established in 1978 is
performing great service by transporting essential commodities to and
from Karachi Port Inland.
Although road traffic is increasing rapidly,the density of the road
network is still inadequate and the condition of most roads is
unsatisfactory in quality,width, and separation of up and down
carriageways.Slow moving carts mingle with modern vehicular traffic and
accidents and traffic jams are frequent.
Principal Roads:
The main roads of Pakistan are as follows:
1.Karachi to Torkham via Lahore:
This is the longest and an important road of Pakistan.It is also known
as the grand trunk road.Its length is about 1735 kilometers.
This road links Karachi Port with other interior parts of our
country.The import and export of Afghanistan goes through this road.All
the big cities situated on this road are linked with other small towns
and villages through small roads.In many regions,this road run parallel
to the railway line at some places due to heavy traffic from Hyderabad
to Karachi,it has been rebuilt and is known as the Super Highway.This
road passes from the following towns and cities.Karachi to
Thatta,Hyderabad,Nawabshah,Rohri,Rahimyar
Khan,Bahawalpur,Multan,Khanewal,Sahiwal,Okara,Patt
oki,Raiwind,Lahore,Gujranwala,Gujrat,Jhelum,Rawalp
indi,Nowshera,Peshawar,Torkham.
2.Karachi to Chaman via Kalat and Quetta:
This is the second largest and an important road of Pakistan.Its
distance is about 834 kilometers from Karachi to Chaman.This road
beginning from Karachi passing through the remote areas of Baluchistan
Province,reaches upto ,Chaman,a small border town near the border of
Afghanistan.The products of Afghanistan ,such as dry fruits etc.come to
Karachi through this road.Besides this the requirements of rural and
urban areas of Baluchistan are fulfilled through this road.
3.Rohri to Quetta via Sukkur,Jacobabad-Sibi:
This is third important road of our country.Its distance is about 410
kilometers.This road passing through different parts of Sindh
Province,connects various important cities of Baluchistan Province.The
products of Baluchistan Province and trade with other province is mainly
performed through this road.
4.Dera Ismail Khan to Quetta via Fort Sandeman:
This is also an important road of our country.This road connects the
areas of N.W.F.P .with Baluchistan Province.This road also goes from
Dera Ismail Khan to Peshawar via Bannu and Kohat.It has strategic and
economic importance.The distance from Dera Ismail Khan to Quetta is 555
kilometers.
5.Third National Highway:
On the right bank of Indus River,a big highway is under
construction.Its distance from Karachi to Peshawar will be about 1220
kilometers and it is expected that it will be completed upto 1993.This
highway will connect the following cities:Karachi,Sewan
Sharif,Dadu,Larkana,Shikarpur,Kashmir ,Dera Ghazi Khan,Dera Ismail
Khan,Bannu,Kohat and Peshawar.
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(B) RAILWAYS
Introduction:
Railways are the convenient and quick means of transport of people and goods particularly heavy items,over long distances.
Pakistan inherited 8554 km.(5315 miles) of railways ,to which much
addition has not been made.The extension work has hampered because of
difficulties in maintaining and running the existing railways.The
locomotives in Pakistan were run by coal.After the creation of Pakistan
coal became a scarce commodity .Therefore,Pakistan had to change its
engines from coal to diesel which required money and time.Workshop had
also to be remodelled to to repair and maintain them.Another problem was
the availability of railways are switching to concrete sleepers.At
some places metre gauge track has been changed into broad gauge
track.Besides this,electrification of Railway track from Lahore to
Khanewal has been completed and work of electrification to Samasatta
Railway track is under progress.At present, Pakistan Railways comprise
of 8775 route kilometers,907 stations and 78 train halts.Its major
assets include 753 locomotives,2339 passengers coaches and 34851 freight
wagons.
Railway Routes
Following are the principle routes at Pakistan railways:
1.Peshawar to Karachi via Lahore:
This is the main line of Pakistan railway.Its distance from Karachi
city to peshawar cantt.is 1045 miles or 1682 kilometers.This line
passing through Lahore (Pakistan Railway Headquarter) connects the
biggest port of Pakistan(Karachi) with other cities of the country.The
following are the important stations situated on this route
eshawar,Nowshera,Attock,Hasanabdal,Texila,R
awalpindi,Jhelum,Lalamusa,Gujrat,Wazirabad,Gujranw
ala,Lahore,Raiwind,Pattoki,Okara,Sahiwal,Khanewal,
Multan,Bahawalpur,Khanpur,Rahimyar
Khan,Rohri,Khairpur,Nawabshah,Hyderabad,Kotri,Kara chi.
It is a double line from Lodhran to Karachi and Lahore to
Raiwind.Trains can go up and down lines simultaneously,but from Raiwind
to Lodhran,it is a single line track and trains have to stop at various
stations to pass the trains coming from the opposite site.
Electric trains are being run between Lahore and Khanewal and further
extension work is under progress.It is estimated that the expenditure
of oil consumption have been reduced due to the use of electricity,and a
large amount of foreign exchange is being saved also.
2.Karachi to Quetta via Kotri,Dadu,Jacobabad:
This is also an important route of Pakistan railway.This line connects
the port of Karachi with various cities of Baluchistan Province and
reaches upto Quetta.This line has been further extended from Quetta to
Zahidan via Nokundi ,Its distance is about 323 miles.
3.Rohri to Chaman via Sukkur,Larkana,Quetta,Chaman:
The distance of this route is 239 miles,it reaches from Rohri to
Chaman,a town situated near the border of Afghanistan.The products of
Afghanistan such as fruits etc.reach various provinces through this
route.
4.Peshawar to Multan via Attock,Kundian,Mari Indus,Multan:
This is a branch line which reaches from Multan to Attock and meets the main line.
5.Lalamusa to Khanewal via Sargodha,Faisalabad:
This is also a branch line passing through various commercial centres and meets the main line near Lala Musa.
(C) AIR TRANSPORT
in 1947 a small air company,the Orient Airways,Operated in
Pakistan.Two more companies quickly stand up namely the Pak-air Limited
and Crescent Airways.By 1952 the two new companies were dissolved.The
Orient Airways was too small to meet the growing needs of the
country.Therefore,in April 1955,Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is
established by an ordinance.The Orient Airways was merged in the new
company which now monopolizes air transport in Pakistan.
The Pakistan International Airline has made a phenomenal progress since
it Inception.It started its life with a fleet of 15 aircrafts,three
super constellation ,two convairs and ten Dakutas.As on February
29,1992 Pia's fleet comprised of 47 aircrafts of different types.
The PIA services are available to some large cities like
Karachi,Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Multan, Hyderabad,and
Quetta.It also links small places which have transport difficulties like
Gilgit ,Chitral,Skurdo,Pasni,Gwadar,Turbal and Jiwani and important
historical places,Like Mohenjo Daro.In all PIA serves 35 domestic
stations.It has wide links outside Pakistan.It connects many Europeon
countries like U.K ,Germany,France,Italy,Russia etc.It goes to U.S.A.It
connects most of the countries of the Middle East and a few African
countries.It goes to India, Bangladesh, Singapore, Thailand, China, Hong
Kong and Japan.In all PIA serves 43 International stations.The result
of this expansion has been that the number of the passengers and Cargo
handled by PIA has greatly increase in 1955-56 PIA carried 1.1 million
passengers which was more than double in flye years time.In 1970-71 and
1971-72 ,There was a little set back because of political disturbances
in East Pakistan and its eventual position in 1971.Since then the
conditions have started to improve steadily.In ten years time the
passenger traffic increased from 1.8 million (1970-71) to 6.5 million
(1980-81).The increase was phenomenal rise took place in international
traffic from 0.5 million in 1970-71 to 3.2 million in 1981-82.The
progress in Cargo handled by PIA as equally glorious.In 1955-56 only
1,00 tons of cargo was carried that increased by about 7 times in five
years (1959-60).In other ten years 1970-71 the increase was 3 times.In
another ten years (198081),more than three times increase was
registered.
Karachi Airport of our country has gained the position of an
International Airport. It is a stopping point for flights from Europe to
Far East and Australia and also for flights from China to Africa.From
Karachi there are connecting flights to various countries of Middle
East.PIA'S network extends from Tokyo to Newyork and Toronto.In
June,1991,Mashed in Iran as added as a new destination.
In PIA,within a few years engineering facilities will be further
developed and production facilities will be geared up to undertake
manufacturing and repair work.
2. Waterways
(A)RIVER TRANSPORTATION:
Rivers were the chief means of transportation in ancient times.That is
why most of the ancient cities grew up along the courses and at the
junctions of rivers.Today,only cheap,bulky and non-perishable goods are
carried by rivers.
Rivers are probably the cheapest means of transportation.Expenses such
as those involved in the building of roads and railway tracks are
avoided as the running cost of boats is low.When compared with that of
engines and trains .In mountainous regions of our country ,timber wood
is transported by means of rivers.There is insufficient water in our
rivers all the year round for large boats to use them easily.The Indus
carries sufficient water and is navigable from Attock to its delta which
is about a distance of 960 miles.Different kinds of Items such as
timber,grains,stones etc.,are transported from one place to another with
the help of small boats.
(B)OCEAN TRANSPORTATION
The import and export of Pakistan are mainly carried through Ocean transport.
Shipping:
Pakistan is started its life with a frail base in shipping
sector.There were three old ships with a dead weight of 18,000
tons.Almost all the goods from foreign countries were brought on foreign
ships and heavy drain of foreign exchange was taking place.The
government therefore became a member of U.K.Continent Conference line
.More than 40 ships began to operate.Further expansion of shipping
enterprise was felt necessary.In 1963 a new shipping policy was adopted
which among other things,sanctioned the purchase of 35 ships.During the
same year National Shipping Corporation was established.Its ship began
to operate on U.K.continent route and U.S.A. in 1964.In 1965,its ships
started to go to Singapore,Hong Kong ,China and Japan.In 1966,Red sea
and Persian Gulf areas were tapped.By 1970 the corporation had 31
vessels with dead weight of 336,931 tonnes.Besides there were 40 ships
owned by other companies established in Pakistan.These 71 Pakistani
ships were handling the entire interwing trade (East Pakistan-West
Pakistan trade) and 14 % of the foreign sea-borne trade and could carry
6600 passengers.In 1974,th e private shipping companies were
nationalized.To manage them Pakistan shipping corporation was
established.In 1979,the two corporations were merged under the name of
Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC).The PNSC's development
programme includes the acquisition of a bulk carrier for shipments of
rock phosphate,an edible oil tanker for shipments of palm oil,four bulk
carriers for shipments of iron ore and coal imported by Pakistan Steel
and three container vessels for handling containerized general cargo
trade.
At present there are 22 vessels owned by PNSC.The corporation has a
dead weight of 352,716 tons.During the first half of the year ending
December31,1991 the corporation handled 2.74 million freight tonnes of
cargo as against 2.77 million freight tons during the previous-half year
ending December 31,1990.
1. Karachi Port:
Located west of the Indus Delta on the Arabian Sea coast,Karachi Port
has served Pakistan since its inception.Karachi is a natural harbour
sheltered behind the island of Keamari and a break-water at Manora.
Karachi,a major port by world standards,is Pakistan's only large port.It
has a vast hinterland comprising not merely Pakistan and that part of
Kashmir which is not under indian occupation but also Afghanistan.The
port has more than 25 berths,plus a petroleum dock.The East Wharf
,constructed over 50 years ago,has been modernized.The West Wharves and a
dry dock for the construction and repair of ships have been built
since independence.The ports dry general cargo handling capacity,though
considerably increased in the past,is still less than the actual
amount of cargo handled,the two respectively being C and over 14
million tons per annum.As a result,the harbour is very crowded,with
most ships double-berthed,and long delays in entering the port are
usual .Much has been done to improve the port in four projects .The
fourth project of Karachi port included,among other works,the
construction of 75,000 dead weight oil tanker berth.It has improve the
old handling capacity of the port from 5 to 10 million tonnes per
annum.A master plan had been prepared for the development of the port
and the first set of 8 berths,with modern container terminals,was
completed by 1987-88.The dry general cargo handling capacity of the
port improved by 2 million tonnes.
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Cargo Handling:
During the first nine months of the Financial year ending March
1992,the Karachi port handled a cargo volume of 14.7 million tons (11
million tons of import and 3.7 million tons of export) ,which is 4.2%
above the corresponding period of the previous year.
2. Port Mohammed Bin Qasim:
In view of the increasing work the Karachi Port had to perform,the
necessity of a new port was felt.After examining a number of
areas,finally a site for the new port was selected at Pilli Creek,close
to Pakistan Steel Mill.In June 1973,Port Mohammed Bin Qasim Authority
was established and the work on the port was started.Port Mohammed Bin
Qasim,which is the first bulk,semi bulk and industrial port of the
country is situated 53 kilometers south east of the Karachi Port.
Besides handling general cargo like rice,cement,fertilizers etc.the
port will have special facilities for handling iron ore, coal and steel
mill machinery.In the first phase the port shall have 8 berths and 12
more will be added in the second phase.Most of the work in phase 1 has
been completed and the port has started functioning.
Cargo Handling:
Cargo handled at Port Bin Qasim during July March 1991-92 was 5.768
million tonnes,including 5.152 million tonnes of import and 0.616
million tonnes of export goods.
