transport and telecommunication

Question 1

distribution of network of Pak railways

Answer 1

total length: 11900 km Karachi to Peshawar
mostly in P and S along rivers to develop in flat areas
valley areas of KPK (peshawar, Kohat, Bannu)
Peshawar - torkham via khyber pass
nowshera - dargai (last station in W mountains)
none in upper KPK and northern mountains and GB province

Question 2

factors affecting distribution of railways

Answer 2

natural:
highly rugged land of N and W mountains
sub freezing temps and heavy snowfall restrict any major railway project in GB province, Chitral Muree and Galiat region

human:
lack of funds and skilled workforce (GB and upper KPK)
difficult and expensive to carry heavy achinery in mountainous areas
difficult to work in cold and snowy winters
political instability
lack of political will to develop undeveloped areas (major cities prioritized)
restriction due to terrorism and war on terrorism
expensive and less feasible to build railways in areas w low population density eg Balochistan, many parts of KPK and GB

Question 3

main railway routes

Answer 3

Peshawar - Karachi
Lahore - Karachi
Quetta-chaman and Quetta-Zahidan etc

Question 4

reasons for deterioration in performance of Pak railways

Answer 4

lack of investment by govt and priv sector
worn out and damaged rails and sleepers
operational inefficiencies in managing a convenient schedule
overstaffing and corruption in railway staff
uneconomic stations and closure of unpopular routes
poor services
lack of interest

Question 5

improvements in Pak railways

Answer 5

replacing steam engines w diesel engines and start of electric traction from Lahore to Khanewal
faster and non stop trains on major routes (KK express, shalimar, rail cars bw major cities eg Lahore and Rawalpindi
building dual tracks on selected routes eg between khanewal and lodhran on the Karachi-Peshawar route
lahore to peshawar dual track in progress
more repair workshops; oldest one in mughalpura, lahore being improved, new workshops in Isl, Sukkur and Jhelum to repair and manufacture parts of carriages
plan to revitalize KCR to ease transport within city
work on Gwadar railway track to link it w rest of Pak then w CAR’s
involving priv sector for improved reservation and ticketing system
Orange line train being built in Lahore to ease burden on road transport

Question 6

advantages of rail transport

Answer 6

suitable for non-perishable, bulky low value goods
safer and faster than road transport
cheaper for bulky goods to be carried over long distances as one railway engine pulls several wagons containing huge loads
more comfortable journey
less frequent repair and maintenance needed (though terrorists have begun to disrupt railways)

Question 7

disadvantages of rail transport

Answer 7

not suitable for perishable high value goods
door to door service not possible
delays common due to poor management of schedule of trains and absence of dual tracks
less extensive network compared to roads
ore frequent handling of goods
difficult and expensive repair and maintenance of rail tracks

Question 8

major highways and roads

Answer 8

N-5
a) GT road Peshawar-Lahore
b) national highway, Lahore-Karachi
Indus highway runs west of Indus, shorter route bw Peshawar and Karachi but less popular than N-5, from Kotri - Karachi it becomes super highway
RCD highway:
Karachi-Quetta-Iran-Turkey
Lahore-Quetta highway
Sukkur-Quetta highway

Question 9

distribution of roads in Pak

Answer 9

extensively distributed throughout Pak
all provinces connected by various highways
mix of metalled and unmetalled roads
more popular highways located east of Indus
Makran coastal highway built in early 2000s

Question 10

factors affecting distrubution of roads

Answer 10

cheaper and easier to build in plain areas
eg Indus plains
many major highways had been built before independence
rugged and less populated areas = Kacha roads can be built; more expensive to build pucca in N mountains, GB and w mountains
restriction due to earthquakes and heavy snowfall
difficult to build in upper indus plain due to 5 rivers across which long bridges have to be built, easier to buiild in lower indus plain and coastal areas
better quality roads connecting major towns are more feasible than in the low population density areas and deserts

Question 11

cross border highways connecting Pak w its neighbors:

Answer 11

KKH
connects GB province to china thru khunjerab pass
completed by Pak China collaborative efforts in 1979
source of:
1. promoting trade, cultural links and political relations w china
2. development of GB province
3. promoting industrial development by settling up industrial estates and zones along KKH; in the long run it will attract a greater number of tourists
other cross border highways:
- G.T road: Pak-Afghanistan and Pak-India
- Quetta-Qandhar highway: Pak-Afghan
- RCD highway: Pak-Iran

Question 12

motorway

Answer 12

started by Sharif govt in 1990; M2 completed during the second term of Mr. Nawaz Sharif, 1997-99
most recent development:
M-1 (Peshawar-Isl)
M-2 (Isl-lahore) and
M-3 (Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad) operational

need and imp:
to relieve pressure on N-5
faster and quicker transport
industrial estates and zones along motorway- boost industrialization
connects areas of raw materials w factories and markets thru a number of interchanges
new housing schemes being developed along motorway
prefered by passengers and tourists
connection w CARs
Sharif govt planning to connect it to China as part of Mega project , CPEC

Question 13

A and D of road transport

Answer 13

A:
more extensive than railway
suitable for non-bulky, high value and perishable goods eg food products
cheaper for carrying goods over short distance
highly flexible time table due to competition among various priv sector companies
door to door service
less frequent handling of goods
easiers and cheaper repair and maintenance

D:
not suitable for bulky good and long distances
chances of delay while passing thru major cities
less safety
heavy vehicles may damage quality of roads

Question 14

distribution of air routes

Answer 14

extensive distribution
routes spread thru out pak
greater number of flights from major cities eg karachi, lahore, Isl and Peshawar
flights from Quetta to 5 destinations only
lesser no. of flights for smaller towns
gilgit and skardu airports located in extreme north of Pak

Question 15

factors affecting location of airports

Answer 15

helping factors:
major towns w greater industrial trade and activity
easier to build on flat land eg Indus plains and coastal areas
moderate and tolerable climate keeps airport open thru out year
support by govt and interest shown by the local ppl eg sialkot international airport

hindering factors:
expensive and difficult to build in northern mountains and GB due to rugged landscape
difficult to operate during winters due to heavy snowfall and low temps
lack of flat land to build good runway
problems of transmission and radio signals and radar operation in v high mountains
poor visibility due to fog and heavy snowfall
lesser than expected return if built in small town eg mingora airport in swat had to be closed due to less passengers and terrorism later on
growth of terrorism restricted building of new airports

Question 16

reasons for growing popularity of air transport

Answer 16

internal:
fastest, safest most comf means
suitable for high value, lightweight goods eg gold jewelry and surgical instruments
accessibility to mountainous areas
increased affordability due to improved standards of living
growth of airlines to compete w PIA eg Air blue, shaheen airlines and airsial

external:
increased cargo transport to ME recently (fruits, vegs etc)
growth of touris and business
more migrations
increased popularity of edu in major institutes of the world eg Harvard uni, London uni
international political disturbances and disputes, more frequent travelling of UN and other international political delegates

Question 17

recent improvements in air transport and their feasibilty

Answer 17

establishent of the world’s first ever priv sector built international airport in sialkot
improved services by PIA and airport authorities eg installation of moving walkways in Jinnah terminal at Karachi
new international airports eg Allama Iqbal International airport, Lahore
installing antifog lights at Allama Iqbal “ “
improved security arrangements at all airports and empowering the ASF and ANF to eliminate smuggling and counter terrorism
improved flight control system
however, political instability, lack of political will, insecurity and terrorism, corruption and mismanagement of funds by public sector institutes = hinder major improvements

Question 18

A and D of air transport

Answer 18

A:
safest, fastest and most comf
accessibility to areas which are not easily accessible by land
highly precious and non bulky goods transport

D:
most expensive means
not suitable for bulky and low value goods
air transport accidents always fatal (rare)
more thorough security checking
deteriorating services of PIA as well as priv airlines
poor maintenance and repair = accidents
delays due to poor management, heavy snowfall, poor visibility due to fog and interference by high profile political figures

Question 19

dry ports

Answer 19

a dry port provides most of the port facilities such as packing and storing of goods and documentation and customs clearance services to save time of trader
eg: Mughalpura dry port, Lahore and dry ports in Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad and Multan

Question 20

why are dry ports set up

Answer 20

reduce load on ports (Qasim, Kemari)
ensure smooth collection of revenue
save time of exporters and importers; transport of goods from factory to port
stimulate foreign trade and earn foreign exchange by increasing exports

Question 21

water transport: ports of Pak

Answer 21

Major:
Kemari/Karachi: west of Indus delta deep sea port w a number of wharves
open thruout year
developments:
new terminals (liquid product terminal, container terminals at west wharf)
flyover bridges connecting port area
reconstruction of berths to handle more cargo
navigational aids and radars
improved storage facilities
environmental protection and equipment to minimize sea water pollution

Qasim:
20 km SE of Karachi, Gharo Creek
2nd deep sea port, built 1980 to handle cargo of Pak steel mill, Pipri
handles other imports and exports
performs combined function of deep sea port and an industrial zone w these industries: cotton textile, chemicals, paper and board and assembly industries
main cargo: iron ore, coke, manganese, oil, grains, rice etc

Pak national shipping corporation (PNSC): set up 1979 to promote industry and water transport
imp:
link bw pak and its trade partners
stabilize freight rates
save pak foreign exchange

Gwadar:
Makran coast, spread over 2500 acres, being developed w the chinese aid
imp:
source of reducing burden on Kemari and Qasim
Balochistan least developed province; export of fruit and minerals of Balochistan (Many mineral extraction projects in process w help of chinese aid)
possibility of growth of some related industries (fishing, engin
engineering, services etc
may provide transit trade facilities to Afghanistan and CARs, nearest land locked countries, chances of improving rs w these states
development of Gwadar = several jobs created for local Baloch population
Gwadar good sites for building EPZs and industrial estates = boost economic growth
linking China w Gwadar under CPEC
development in Gwadar area:
WAPDA building grid station for power supply
water supply from akracore dam, mirani dam and dasht river and desalination plant to purify sea water
18k hectares to develop rail link w other parts of Pak, 700km Makran coastal highway to Karachi; 515km highway to CARs

limiting factors of development of Gwadar port project:
political instability
lack of trust bw Balochistan and central govt
secterian violence and terrorism
pak govt suspects involvement of Indian secret agency RAW in terrorism and violence
gulf states feel their monoply in gulf region threatened (eg proposal of developing Iranian Chahabar port w Indian cooperation to counter Gwadar and CPEC)
Baloch tribal chiefs opposed to several development schemes in Balochistan

Question 22

A & D of water transport

Answer 22

A:
suitable for bulky, non perishable and low value goods
cheaper than air transport for longer distances
Pak can amke extra earnings by providing transit trade to neighboring land locked states of Afghanistan and central Asia
D:
v slow
violent storms and cyclones = srs difficulties
chances of piracy
not suitable for perishable and high value goods

Question 23

importance of an efficient transport system

Answer 23

socio economic & political benefits:
ore social welfare schemes; provision of health and edu masses; social and cultural linkages within Pak and eventually w other cultures
more economic activity; balanced and sustained growth, increased trade and industrial activity, more jobs, more revenue for govt, stability of prices
link bw rural and urban areas, prosperity in rural areas
better security and defence, improved law and order, better degree of political awareness

telecommunication:
ensure rapid communication on long distance by converting sound and images into signals and waves and reconverting these into transmitted sounds/images
internet latest device as it:
sends and receives emails v efficiently
develops websites on the www
provides info by single click

Question 24

importance of TC

Answer 24

in edu:
distance learning schemes eg TV lecturers of AIOU and VU, great variety of courses
teacher training programs
lectures can be saved in software
online workshops, competition among students
ez and quick access to the reputed institutes of the world to get info abt admission, scholarships

Industry and trade:
speedy access to new tech, markets to sell goods, new products (helps local producers to improve quality)
oversea branches of multinationals and the same may set up branches in Pak (transfer of tech and creation of jobs)
effective publicity thru radio, TV, websites, social media
info abt new market trends and opportunities
ez and quick transaction by ecommerce/ e banking to compete in a rapidly changing world by saving time and energy

Question 25

govt efforts to promote TC

Answer 25

internet centers, cyber cafes on main airports, railway stations, petrol pumps etc
edu channels on TV
IT towns, centers and cities in major unis eg Arfa Karim IT tower, Lahore
data based registration eg computerized ID cards, driving licenses and passports
PEMRA to regulate working and use of TC devices
new ICT cources at junior and higher edu levels to create a team of ICT experts
intro of cyber wing in police department

Question 26

D/hindering factors of TC and providing TC facilities in remote areas

Answer 26

high cost and lack of funds
poor literacy rates in rural areas
lack of skilled workforce in remote areas
disturbance of signals in mountainous areas
waste of time cuz addiction
cybercrime and hacking websites of sensitive agencies
stormy winds disrupt internet services