‘Pakistan needs integrated dry port strategy to decentralise economic activity'
This requires collaboration among stakeholders, including the Federal Board of Revenue, Pakistan Railways, Ministry of Commerce, and trade associations, they added.
These circles have proposed to utilize Pakistan Railways for inland cargo movement to reduce congestion and road traffic while focusing on Lahore, Multan, KP (Peshawar), and Gwadar ports for Phase-1 implementation. To this effect, they stressed to implement digital customs, smart logistics systems, and real-time tracking to enhance efficiency and transparency.
It may be noted that Pakistan's dry ports are poised to revolutionize the country's economy by enhancing trade facilitation, economic development, and regional connectivity. Strategically located inland terminals connected to seaports via road or rail, dry ports can significantly boost trade efficiency, reduce logistics costs, and increase global competitiveness.
Speaking about key benefits of dry ports, these experts said dry ports can minimize demurrage charges, delays, and transportation bottlenecks by shifting cargo processing inland. Also, they added, dry ports can generate employment opportunities in logistics, customs, warehousing, and transport, stimulating industrial development and creating Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Besides, dry ports promote seamless connectivity between road, rail, and sea, ensuring efficient transportation and reducing costs, they stressed.
Regarding current challenges, they said, the absence of a comprehensive national dry port policy hinders the growth and development of dry ports. According to them, congested Karachi ports and limited customs authority at dry ports lead to unnecessary delays and inefficiencies. In addition, poor coordination among stakeholders, including customs, shipping lines, railways, and freight forwarders, affects the smooth operation of dry ports.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
11 hours ago
- Business Recorder
‘Pakistan needs integrated dry port strategy to decentralise economic activity'
LAHORE: Pakistan must adopt an integrated dry port strategy to decentralize economic activity, facilitate upcountry traders' access to local ports, reduce logistics costs, and enhance global competitiveness, said customs experts. This requires collaboration among stakeholders, including the Federal Board of Revenue, Pakistan Railways, Ministry of Commerce, and trade associations, they added. These circles have proposed to utilize Pakistan Railways for inland cargo movement to reduce congestion and road traffic while focusing on Lahore, Multan, KP (Peshawar), and Gwadar ports for Phase-1 implementation. To this effect, they stressed to implement digital customs, smart logistics systems, and real-time tracking to enhance efficiency and transparency. It may be noted that Pakistan's dry ports are poised to revolutionize the country's economy by enhancing trade facilitation, economic development, and regional connectivity. Strategically located inland terminals connected to seaports via road or rail, dry ports can significantly boost trade efficiency, reduce logistics costs, and increase global competitiveness. Speaking about key benefits of dry ports, these experts said dry ports can minimize demurrage charges, delays, and transportation bottlenecks by shifting cargo processing inland. Also, they added, dry ports can generate employment opportunities in logistics, customs, warehousing, and transport, stimulating industrial development and creating Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Besides, dry ports promote seamless connectivity between road, rail, and sea, ensuring efficient transportation and reducing costs, they stressed. Regarding current challenges, they said, the absence of a comprehensive national dry port policy hinders the growth and development of dry ports. According to them, congested Karachi ports and limited customs authority at dry ports lead to unnecessary delays and inefficiencies. In addition, poor coordination among stakeholders, including customs, shipping lines, railways, and freight forwarders, affects the smooth operation of dry ports. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Overseas Pakistanis to be taxed as filers on property deals
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has clarified that the rate of advance income tax on purchase and sale of immovable properties by overseas Pakistanis would be 'filer rate' even if they are 'non-filer'. The FBR has issued frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the tax rates on buying and selling of immovable properties by overseas Pakistanis. According to the FBR, for overseas Pakistanis the rate of advance income tax on purchase and sale of immovable properties under sections 236C and 236K shall be 'filer rate' even if they are 'non-filer' subject to the following conditions:(I) They are holding POC or NICOP; (ii) They are non-resident in Pakistan meaning their stay in a financial year in Pakistan is less than 183 days. Investments in real estate: Overseas Pakistanis now eligible for exemption from higher tax rates The advance income tax under sections 236C and 236K at the time of transfer of immovable properties differ depending on the fair market value of the immovable properties, as well as the status of a person who has filed his income tax return and a person who filed late or did not file at all. The FBR explained that the overseas Pakistanis who are holding POC or NICOP can avail 'filer rate' under sections 236C and 236K by following procedure: The concerned Authority, Registrar or a housing Society who is responsible for registering, transferring or recording the immovable property shall click on the 'Overseas Pakistanis' link on FBR's web portal to create a PSID (payment slip identity). The system shall redirect the person to a form to declare his POC or NICOP No and the system will fetch automatically his details such as name and address; upload scanned copy of his POC or NICOP; and his status as 'resident' or 'non-resident' and can upload documents in support thereof. The system shall digitally make the PSID available in the IRIS digital inbox of the concerned Commissioner for approval. The Commissioner shall verify the documents attached, approve after verification and inform the person who created PSID by email and SMS. The system shall allow the person to make payment of advance income tax at 'filer rate' despite being a 'non-filer,' the FBR added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Revival of SAARC: new regional order
With the paralysis of The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) since 2016, South Asia's dream of economic and political integration has remained frozen. But today, a new dynamic is emerging—one that is being steered not by New Delhi but by Beijing and Islamabad. China and Pakistan are exploring a Beijing-led regional alternative to revitalize cooperation in South Asia. This development could redefine regional power dynamics, marginalize India's influence, and establish parallel regional orders. While this initiative opens new economic and diplomatic opportunities for smaller South Asian nations, it also introduces risks of regional fragmentation and geo-strategic rivalry. This brief outlines the key motivations, implications, and strategic options for the main stakeholders—Pakistan, China, India, and smaller regional states. Pakistan sees opportunity in SAARC where India sees stalemate as its advantage. With SAARC in paralysis and India preoccupied with bilateralism and Indo-Pacific strategic partnerships, Islamabad is stepping into the regional vacuum—backed by China's economic and diplomatic might. A China-led platform would give Pakistan renewed regional relevance, potentially connecting it with Afghanistan, Central Asia, Iran, and smaller South Asian states through corridors like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). More importantly, it would allow Pakistan to escape India's veto on regional initiatives and present itself as a gateway between South Asia, the Middle East, and Eurasia. For China, South Asia has long been India's backyard. But with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), military outreach, and now possible regional institutions, Beijing is embedding itself into the region's architecture. A China-led SAARC alternative allows Beijing to increase soft power projection, open trade corridors, and potentially reshape the rules of economic and security engagement in Asia. With growing partnerships in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, China is positioning itself as an integrator where India is increasingly seen as an abstainer. India's boycott of SAARC in 2016 could be politically understandable; but it was strategically costly. While New Delhi has shifted focus to the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) for economic benefits and to be a part of group of four countries — India, Japan, Australia, Japan and United States—for Asia Pacific security dialogue (QUAD), and bilateral diplomacy, it has effectively abandoned leadership of regional integration. India remains the region's largest economy, but its reluctance to engage in a regional forum with Pakistan has eroded its credibility as a unifying force in South Asia. In contrast, China—despite being an outsider—has built multilateral leverage through connectivity, infrastructure, and diplomacy. New Delhi now faces a dilemma: rejoin the regional table and reclaim its leadership role, or risk seeing its neighbors drift further into China's orbit. India has a choice to be a spoiler or a beneficiary. With two parallel regional visions emerging — one led by India (BIMSTEC and Indo-Pacific frameworks QUAD) and another by China and Pakistan (possibly BRI-aligned) — South Asia risks becoming more divided than ever. For smaller nations, this presents both opportunity and risk. They can leverage competition for development gains, but also face mounting pressure to choose sides. The main challenge in this emerging bifurcation for the region is not just diplomatic; it's economic and social. South Asia, which is home to a quarter of the world's population, remains one of the least integrated regions globally. Its intra-regional trade is a mere fraction of what it could be, while cooperation on energy, migration, climate change, and water resources is minimal. The region must be provided a chance and an enabling environment to prioritize economic pragmatism over bloc politics. It could push for legally binding frameworks that protect sovereignty and prevent debt distress. What South Asia needs is not two rival orders, but a common platform of mutual respect, inclusivity, and economic interdependence. A China-Pakistan-led regional bloc could reshape South Asian cooperation in the post-SAARC era. While it offers opportunities for development and new alignments, it also raises concerns about exclusion, dependency, and geopolitical competition. The region's stability and progress demand a balanced, inclusive, and multipolar framework where all regional countries are one among equals and have freedom to jointly work together and not the replacement of one hegemonic model with another. China must tread carefully. Smaller South Asian countries value development aid but are wary of becoming pawns in great power games. If the new forum is seen as a geopolitical project rather than a cooperative one, regional resistance could rise. South Asia does not need two rival orders; it needs a common platform of mutual respect, inclusivity, and economic interdependence. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
