LAHORE-Marine Group of Companies made presentations onthe proposed plans for freight trains business to Azam Khan Swati, FederalMinister for Railways, during his recent visit to the Group. Aasim A. Siddiqui,chairman of the Group, welcomed the minister while Sharique Siddiqui, chiefexecutive of Pakistan International Bulk Terminal (PIBT), and Jawaid Siddiqui,chief operating officer of Pakistan Intermodal Limited (PIL), madepresentations providing a brief of the steps which, if taken with the help of privatesector, can help generate substantial amount of additional revenues forPakistan Railways. Shariq Siddiqui, in his presentation, focused on how thelaying down of a 6-kilometer track to connect PIBT with the Jumma Goth junctionwill not only significantly increase the revenue to PR but this dedicated trackwill help minimize the environmental issues and reduce transportation cost ofcoal. Jawaid Siddiqui, in his presentation, highlighted that opportunities canbe harnessed by Pakistan Railways, with the help of the private sector, byusing the existing set of freight wagons locomotives and without additionalinvestments to be made by Railways. Azam Khan Swati, accompanied on this visitby Muhammad Najeeb Haroon, MNA, and Nisar Ahmed Memon, Chief Executive ofPakistan Railways, deeply appreciated the presentations and plans aimed atgenerating additional revenues for Pakistan Railways. He displayed his pleasureon wide ranging knowledgeable session with the Marine Group management and assured commitment to move ahead with the private sector for immediate and out-of-the-box freight trains business solutions in the best interest of Pakistan Railways.

The Marine Group of Companies is one of the largestand most diversified cargo handling and logistics groups in Pakistan. As the flagship project of Marine Group, Pakistan International Bulk Terminal has been set up as the country’s first Coal, Clinker and Cement Terminal at total costof US $305 million at Port Qasim with state-of-the-art, fully mechanized facility for handling of dirty bulk cargo at Port Qasim. The terminal has become an integral part of the extensive coal supply chain across the country.