Setting the ambitious targets for the 12th Five-Year Plan (2018-23), the government is projecting to increase total cargo handling of three ports by 47 percent, railways share in passenger and freight transport from 3.32 percent to 6 percent and shifting of transportation of oil from roads to pipelines.
This has been projected in the 12th Five-Year Plan (2018-23) by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform, a copy of which is available with Business Recorder.
The actions envisaged to improve cargo output and its handling at ports include: (i) development of national ports master plan with due attention to future capacity constraints, good evacuation and urban integration, (ii) improving the handling of cargo at ports, (iii) focus on development of Gwadar Port and Gwadar Port Free Zone with provision of infrastructure, water and electricity.
The actions are targeted to improve communication sector by increasing public and private sector financing for railways infrastructure and increasing share of railways in oil transportation.
The Ministry plans to make oil transportation mainly through pipelines after consultation with Ministry of Energy/Petroleum Division to construct pipelines on Build Operate Transfer (BOT) basis.
The government also plans to introduce inland water transport for freight and passenger traffic by taking measures that include: (i) carrying-out commercial/ bankable feasibility study for identification of potential corridor/sites focusing on short to medium lengths of navigable waterways along the River Indus; and (ii) on the basis of the outcome of the feasibility study, projects will be developed in public-private partnership (PPP) mode.
Connectivity target is to achieve road density target of 0.5 km/sq.km by taking actions that include: (i) National Highway Authority (NHA) to focus on the completion of on-going projects in the PSDP and maintenance of National Highways/Motorways; (ii) NHA to implement viable new construction and maintenance activities on self-financed basis in PPP mode; and (iii) focus on development of links/farm to market rural roads to improve connectivity and road network length.
It is also projected that international long-distance connectivity will be promoted from select airports, while direct connections will be promoted for regional and domestic travel. For this purpose, the government would take actions that include: (i) infrastructure capacity and level of service of international and domestic airports will be developed in line with the functional purpose of the airports; and (ii) improvement to be made in the loss making PIA.
The government also plans to integrate and to ensure connection of multi-modal transport system by fixing targets in a master plan for multi-modal transport System and Mass Transit Projects for major cities with Feeder Routes on PPP/BOT basis. For this purpose, the government would take actions that include: (i) Master Plan will be developed for all modes/sub-sectors of transportation in integrated manner; (ii) liaison with provincial governments for facilitating and helping in development of Mass Transit Projects and capacity building; and (iii) preparation of commercial/bankable Feasibility Studies for Mega Infrastructure Projects and their submission to PPP authority.
The Ministry also plans to increase water storage capacity from 30 days to 45 days by construction of large/medium and small dams include; on-going projects Gomal Zam Dam, Kurram Tangi Dam (Kaitu Weir), Darawat Dam, Nai Gaj Dam, Naulong Dam, Ghabir Dam, Construction of Mangi Dam, Construction of Basol Dam, Papin Dam, Raising of Baran Dam and new intervention of Diamer-Basha Dam, Mohmand/Munda Dam, Kurram Tangi Dam (Stage-II), Chiniot Dam and Naulong Dam Project.
For reduction of water losses the Ministry has set the following ambitious targets: (i) lining of small canals & distributaries, (ii) rehabilitation/improvement of existing Irrigation System including Modernization of Barrages, (iii) improvements of watercourses, (iv) introduction of high efficiency irrigation techniques (Sprinkler, Drip & Bubbler) and (v) completion of Right Bank Outfall Drainage System (RBOD-I, II & III) by taking measures of mitigation of waterlogging and salinity water conservation measures.
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