Govt urged to form permanent ‘Inland Waterway Transport Authority’

KARACHI: Mian Zahid Hussain, President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) & All Karachi Industrial Alliance (AKIA), Chairman National Business Group Pakistan (NBG), Chairman FPCCI Policy Advisory Board, has urged the government to establish a permanent Inland Waterway Transport Authority, finalise the regulatory framework, develop terminals and navigation infrastructure, and offer bankable projects under public-private partnership arrangements. He said that Inland Water Transport can prove to be a game changer for Pakistan, but only if announcements are linked with clear timelines, institutional ownership and effective implementation. He said that Pakistan should no longer ignore Inland Water Transport while its freight system remains overwhelmingly dependent on expensive road transportation. He said that Inland Water Transport is not merely a theoretical concept but a practical economic necessity that can reduce logistics costs, conserve fuel, protect country’s road infrastructure and improve the competitiveness of Pakistani exports. Mian Zahid Hussain said that 206 billion tonnes of cargo was moved through the road network in 2023, accounting for more than 90 percent of the country’s freight traffic. He pointed out that the National Highway Authority’s network constitutes a small portion of Pakistan’s total road network but carries around 80 percent of commercial traffic. This excessive concentration is increasing congestion, fuel consumption, road deterioration and the overall cost of doing business. He added that FPCCI has rightly brought this important matter to national attention. The development of inland waterways, particularly a strategic Attock-to-Karachi water route, can provide Pakistan with a low-cost and sustainable freight corridor. He said that reducing dependence on roads is essential for improving logistics efficiency and restoring the competitiveness of trade and industry. Mian Zahid Hussain said that the government has already recognised the importance of Inland Waterways Transport through the National Transport Policy 2018 and the National Freight and Logistics Policy 2020, but implementation has remained painfully slow. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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