High transportation charges may lead to failure of the Economic Co-ordination Organisation (ECO) container train service launched on trial basis linking the three member countries, Pakistan, Iran and Turkey. Upset by high transportation charges, Pakistan is going to take up the issue during the upcoming ECO meeting, sources told Business Recorder here on Monday.
The first international 'Demonstration Container Train' under the banner of Economic Co-ordination Organisation (ECO) was inaugurated by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani at Islamabad railway station on August 14, 2009 to facilitate cargo transportation from Pakistan to Turkey, via Iran.
Sources said that the main objective of this trial run was to identify obstacles en route the vast terrain of about 6500 km. Spread over three countries, there are also operational obstacles, which would be resolved over time, sources added. They said that ECO container train charges are currently Rs 0.23 million per 20-foot container from Islamabad to Istanbul.
They said train charges are received in euro at 0.25 euro per container per one kilometre in Pakistan, 0.27 euro in Iran, and 0.29 euro in Turkey. Coming back from Turkey to Pakistan, container train charges are 0.25 euro per container per one kilometre in Turkey, 0.27 euro in Iran and 0.29 euro in Pakistan.
Moreover, the one-side journey time of the train from Islamabad to Turkey via Iran takes 14 days, sources said. The proposed train would not only add to economic uplift but would also strengthen the friendship and co-operation among the three brotherly countries, sources said, adding that the inter-state goods traffic has sufficient potential to make the venture a success.
Sources said that punctuality, safety, reliability, customer convenience and comfort and one-window operation are the key to success of the project. There is need to introduce uniform competitive tariff to attract export and import cargo, sources added.