Smart summary of the whole unit # 11: Transport & Telecom

Smart-Summary of UNIT # 11: TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION

Means of transport in Pakistan: Air, water, land (through pipeline, railways, road and animals)
Railways.Railway track is called gauge and its types are broad-meter and narrow gauge.
Distribution: Widespread network. Well distributed to south till Karachi, north terminates at Dergai,
south west connecting Sukkur to Sibbi. However south east, northern areas and north west seems to
have less dense network as compared to north east, south east and mostly dense along river Indus and
its tributaries. Areas inaccessible by rail are Gilgit, Chitral, and Skardu etc.
Main railway routes: Karachi-Lahore-Peshawar, Karachi-DG.khan-Peshawar, Karachi-Quetta, Quetta-
Lahore.
International Exists: Khokharapar and Wagah to India in east, Kohi Taftan to Iran in south west, Chaman
and Landi kotal to Afghanistan.
Reasons for deterioration of railway use: Lack of investment, worn-out railways, inefficient timings, not
serving northern areas, corruption, high competition of roads, far from central city.
Problems faced by government to develop railway: Lack of capital, political instability leading to lack of
government priority, topographical constraints, costly repair work.
Developments of railways: Replaced steam engines with diesel, Shalimar express faster train, repair
workshops, Mughalpura workshop biggest in Asia, dual track in Khanewal, Gawadar railway link,
computerized ticketing, KCR.
Advantages for transportation of goods: Bulky goods can be loaded, suitable for low value goods like
coal, safer and faster for long distances.
For people: Safer for long distance, employment, connect remote areas, no traffic blocks and
congestion.
Disadvantages: No door to door service, not suitable for long distances, inconvenient as stations are
away from central cities.
Roads-Network
Types of roads:
Metalled roads: (Pukka) roads founds in village, cities, districts suitable for every traffic.
Unmetalled: (Katcha) roads found in small villages, not suitable for heavy traffic as not strongly built or
carts facing puddle problems in rainy seasons as without drainage.
Distribution: A very widely spread network. More dense in Punjab, and Sindh. Less dense in Balochistan
and northern areas. It is connecting Karachi in south to Gilgit in north. All cities towns and villages are
connected by roads.
International Exits: Gilgit to China through KKH in north, Landi kotal of Afghanistan in KPK and Chaman
to Afghanistan in Balochistan. Kohi Taftan to Iran in south west.
Main roads of Pakistan:
Coastal highways: (connecting Karachi to Iran)
Indus super highway: (Karachi to Peshawar on the west of Indus)
National highway: (Karachi to Lahore on the west of Indus)
G.T road: (Lahore to Peshawar)
Super highway: (Karachi to Hyderabad)
Motorways:
What is a motorway?
Motorways are special type of high-ways which have some specific entry & exit points in it. Such points
are called inter-changes. Light and slow traffic (motor-bikes, cycles, tractor-trollies, animal-carts etc)
can’t use motorways. You can’t drive below and above the allowed speed limit on motor-way.
Reasons for making motorways: Quicker, reduce burden on other roads, to develop industrial estates,

1|Page By Adnan Ashraf, Beaconhouse Liberty Campus,Lahore

 Smart summary of the whole unit # 11: Transport & Telecom

to Increase employment, new settlements and to develop trade-Access to central-Asian states through
Wakhan-Strip. Our motorways has a unique importance for defense too as our PAF uses it as Runways
for emergency & Alternate landings during War.
M-1: Peshawar to Islamabad M-2: Islamabad to Lahore M-3: Lahore to Multan
M-4: Multan to Hyderabad M-5: Multan to Karachi
****The complete plan of motorways in Pakistan :

Problems faced by government in making roads: Lack of funds, political instability, topographical
constraints in north, weather constraints, poor feasibility towards west, active seismic zone, corruption.
Developments in road transportation: Motorways, renovation of roads for Murree with reflectors,
reconstruction and broadening of KKH, more security at western passes, Lahore ring road, Gujranwala
bypass, flyover in all main cities.
Advantages of road transportation: Door to door service, suitable for short distance, connecting remote
and northern areas, suitable for low value goods, easy to build and maintain, quick investment return.

2|Page By Adnan Ashraf, Beaconhouse Liberty Campus,Lahore

 Smart summary of the whole unit # 11: Transport & Telecom

Help in developing industrial estates, employment, new settlements, raw materials taken to industries,
develop tourism, can flourish trade.
Disadvantages: Topographical and weather constraints, land sliding, traffic congestion.
Air Transport
In 1947 Orient Airways was established. 1949 Pakistan airways and crescent air ways was established.
1955 crescent airways was closed and Orient and Pakistan joined to make PIA.
Distribution: International airport at Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, newly built
are at Gawadar, Sialkot, Faisalabad. Mostly connecting all major cities and districts in all provinces.
Northern areas are connected through domestic airports of Gilgit, Chitral, Swat and Skardu.
International routes are of the Europe, USA, Middle East and Far East.
Problems faced by government in developing air transport: Lack of capital, less population in remote
areas, heavy investment, needs big technical staff and security check.
Development in air transport: New terminals in Lahore, Karachi. International airports in Sialkot,
Gawadar and Faisalabad. Domestic airports in northern areas. Many private airlines introduces like Air
Blue, Shaheen.
Advantages: Faster, most suitable for perishable goods, employment opportunities, making world a
global village, and make migration easy.
Disadvantages: Expensive, no door to door service and airports are at distance from central cities,
limited cargo, many remote and small areas are not accessible through air transport, weather
constraints.
Factors contributing to development of air transport:
Internal: Faster, alternate route to northern areas, raise in standard make it affordable, tourism,
expansion of cities.
External: Cargo for fruits, vegetables, making word a global village, making migration easy.
Factors considered for making a new airport: Open space, for future expansion, away from residential
areas, rail and road links, high population, electricity, water and fuel supply.
Water Transport
Distribution of ports:Karachi/ Kemari port behind Minora break water on the west of Indus delta. A
deep sea water with natural harbors having east and west wharves of ships.
Port Qasim: Location is 20km towards the south east of Karachi on Gharo creek in front of Pipri steel
mill. It was built to facilitate Pipri steel mill for imported raw materials of manganese and iron ore, to
reduce burden on other ports handling more cargo, encourage industrialization. It has industries like
paper, boards, chemicals, cotton. Categories dealt here are iron, coal, oil, rice, fertilizer.
Gawadar port: Located on Makran coast between Jiwani and Pasni fishing ports, surrounded by hill
ranges, desert sand and tidal flats. Reasons for making Gawadar port was to give an exit to central Asia
and help in reconstruction of Afghanistan, develop Balochistan providing employment, facilitating port
Qasim and increasing revenue and foreign trade. Financially supported by China in 2 phases. Made more
deep ion second phase.
Developments: General developments in all ports are more liquid product terminals with ancillaries,
construction of flyovers bridges and berths, navigational aids, environmental protection equipments,
expanded storage facilities, refrigeration facilities. Development at Gawadar port is WAPDA grid
stations, international airport, Makran coastal highway, Mirani dam, EPZs, housing schemes.
Factors effecting location of port: Deep port, natural harbors, long coast line with open space for
expansion in hinterland, well connected infrastructure.
Advantages Of sea transport: Cheaper, more cargo capacity, makes foreign market accessible.
Dry Ports
Functions: Clear, check, store, transport goods to seaport.

3|Page By Adnan Ashraf, Beaconhouse Liberty Campus,Lahore

 Smart summary of the whole unit # 11: Transport & Telecom

Purpose To Develop: Speed up trade activities, reduce load on Karachi port, speed up checking and
clearance, smooth collection of revenue.
Areas: Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Sialkot, Larkana.
Facilities Provided In Dry Ports: Infrastructure (road, rail, electricity, water, gas, telephone), staff,
security, storage sheds, refrigeration facilities and custom clearance)
Extra information about dry ports : ( you can leave this part )
At present, there are six dry ports running under the management of Pakistan Railways;
 Lahore Dry Port Established in 1973. Karachi Dry Port Established in 1974.
 Quetta Dry Port Established in 1984. Peshawar Dry Port Established in 1986.
 Multan Dry Port Established in 1988. Rawalpindi Dry Port Established in 1990.
In addition to the above, there are four Dry Ports established and running under the management of
private sector;
 Sialkot Dry Port Established in 1986 Faisalabad Dry Port Established in 1994
 Pak-China Sust Dry Port NLC Dry Port at Thokar Niaz Beg Lahore
 NLC Dry Port at Quetta
 QICT Dry port at Prem Nagar Railway station Established in 2010
 Sialkot International Container Terminal [SICTL] New Multi modal Dry Port at Airport Road,
Sambrial-Sialkot
Benefits of transport
Economic Benefit: Labor, trade, linking rural urban, extends settlement.
Political: Maintain law and order, provide defense, and provide political awareness.
Social: Social welfare, cultural interaction.
Telecommunication
Telecommunication means to communicate over long distance.
Devices: Radio, TV, telephone, fax, computer, internet.
Role Of Telecommunication In Education: Distance, conceptual clarity, virtual universities on TV, multi
media in class rooms, internet and computer or CD use, can apply in foreign universities, develop
innovative skills, discourage route learning.
Role of Telecommunication In Industries: Can carry publicity campaigns, access to new markets,
awareness of new developments and technology by internet, develop spirit of competition, hold
seminars and online workshops for trainings, promote tourism by advertisements, make websites, e
marketing and e banking can be carried.
Problems Of Providing Telecommunication Facilities In Pakistan: Political instability leading to lack of
government priority, less demand and awareness, topographical and weather constraints in north, lack
of funds.
Developments By Government: Infrastructure, internet centers, educational channels introduction of IT
in schools, colleges, universities. Encouraging soft ware industries attract foreign companies.

4|Page By Adnan Ashraf, Beaconhouse Liberty Campus,Lahore