Socio-political circles have appealed to the high-ups of railway authorities that a survey should be conducted for laying railway track between Sialkot and Daska to minimise the distance between Sialkot-Lahore.
In a press statement issued here on Monday, they said that huge amount was being spent on the upgradation of railway tracks in various parts of the country, but Sialkot was being totally ignored and treated step-motherly since long.
The laying of railway track between Sialkot-Daska would help in accelerating the trade and commerce activities, besides supportive in speedy handling of exportable consignments, while it would also reduce the distance between Sialkot and Lahore, they said.
At present, most of the passengers were preferred to travel by luxury coaches or their own transport because the Lahore-bound train had lacked facilities, they said. The socio-political circles alleged that railway authorities had always ignored this export-oriented and foreign exchange earner city in the past.
The railway authorities had badly failed to provide modern and comfortable travelling despite long standing demand for the fast railcar service between Sialkot and Rawalpindi and induction of AC bogies in the Karachi-bound Allama Iqbal Express and fast train service between Sialkot and Lahore and Sialkot and Faisalabad, but nobody paid heed to their demands, they added.
They pointed out that railway tracks between Sialkot and Wazirabad and Sialkot and Narowal were in deteriorated condition and deserved immediate attention of the railway authorities.
Meanwhile, the local business community urged the railway authorities to reduce freight rate from Sialkot to Karachi and ensure delivery of goods, booked from Sialkot for Karachi within 36 hours.