Muhammad Saleem

Traders and industrialists have urged the Punjab government to expedite the establishment of a railway station at the Faisalabad Industrial Estate, saying the facility would significantly reduce transportation costs, streamline logistics and improve the movement of raw materials and finished goods.

Raza Azhar Waqar, chairman of the Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development and Management Company, told Wealth Pakistan that the provincial government has devised a plan to connect the estate with the national railway network. He termed the project a potential “game-changer” for industrialisation in the region.

He said the proposal is currently with the Punjab cabinet and is in its final stages. “We are waiting for their approval to launch it, as all preparations related to the project have been completed,” he added.

Industrialists say the facility is urgently needed. Speaking to Wealth Pakistan, Waheed Ahmed said the railway station would resolve long-standing logistical challenges by enabling easier, faster and cheaper transportation. Given the frequent fluctuations in fuel prices, he noted that manufacturers are struggling to adjust their budgets every two weeks.

He said Faisalabad, known as Pakistan’s textile capital, is home to hundreds of factories that provide thousands of jobs and play a critical role in the national economy. Currently, he added, most goods are transported by trucks, which is both slow and expensive. Manufacturers often face delays at checkpoints and in traffic, disrupting the production process.

A railway link within the industrial estate, he said, would allow industries to transport bulk cargo more efficiently and at a lower cost. “This will make local businesses more competitive, both within Pakistan and in international markets,” he said. He added that countries such as China and India are already benefiting from railway-integrated industrial zones.

Aziz Ahmed, another industrialist, said industries in Faisalabad still rely heavily on road-based transport, which is not favourable for businesses due to high fuel expenses, congestion and delays caused by weather or accidents.

He said railways offer greater reliability and can carry large volumes at once. “Instead of sending 30 trucks for cotton bales, a single train is enough to accomplish the same task in the same amount of time,” he explained.

He noted that establishing a railway station at the Faisalabad Industrial Estate would also help reduce highway traffic, lower carbon emissions and ensure a more predictable delivery schedule. Efficient transport links, he added, would attract more industries to the city, strengthen the industrial cluster and create much-needed jobs.

Credit: INP-WealthPk