Exports and imports worth Rs 2.6 billion were transacted through the Multan dryport during May. Multan Dryport Trusts General Manager Major Javed Musarrat Mirza (Retd) told newsmen on Tuesday that exports weighing 959 Tues, valuing Rs 1.4 billion and imports weighing 306 Tues worth Rs 1.2 billion were handled through the dryport in May.
A sum of Rs 34 million was deposited with the government exchequer in the shape of duties and taxes during the period under review. He said in the last 11 months, ie from July 2005 to May 2006, exports worth a total of Rs 13.3 billion and Rs 4.6 billion worth of imports were handled through the Multan dryport.
Duties and taxes paid to the government on these goods amounted to Rs 321 million, he added. The Multan dryport catered to the needs of the exporters and importers of south Punjab and offered services at comparatively less charges, he observed.
The GM said negotiations were underway with the Railways authorities for the establishment of a special railway terminal for the dryport at Sher Shah railway station, which was hardly 15 kilometres from Multan on the Muzaffargarh section.
He expressed hope that due to economical train freight charges, exporters and importers would benefit from this facility to the optimum level.