KEY POINTS
- Rs 161.26 billion allocated for 105 NHA projects under PSDP FY2025
- Pakistan Railways earned Rs 65.17 billion during July–March FY2025
- PIA posted a Rs 9.3 billion profit despite a 16.8% drop in operating revenue
- PNSC profit dropped to Rs 8.98 billion due to reduced fleet size
- Karachi Port cargo handling rose to 40.4 million tonnes, while Port Qasim saw a 1.6% decline
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Economic Survey 2024–25, released on Monday by the Ministry of Finance, reveals a mixed outlook for the country’s transport and communication sectors.
While infrastructure development, particularly in road and rail, showed notable progress, national institutions such as Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) continued to face operational and financial challenges.
Infrastructure Expansion a Bright Spot
The National Highway Authority (NHA) remained a central focus of development efforts, with a sizable Rs 161.26 billion allocated under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for FY2025.
Of this, Rs 149.28 billion was earmarked for ongoing projects and Rs 11.98 billion for new ventures, covering 105 projects that span 14,480 kilometers of national highways, motorways, and strategic roads.
This continued expansion underscores the government’s commitment to improving road connectivity across Pakistan, critical for trade, mobility, and regional integration.
Railways Regain Some Steam
Despite systemic challenges, Pakistan Railways posted an encouraging 21.4% increase in gross earnings, reaching Rs 65.17 billion during July–March FY2025 compared to Rs 53.7 billion in the same period last year.
With 449 locomotives operating across 7,791 km, the earnings boost hints at improved operational efficiency and slightly better ridership or cargo handling, though broader reforms remain necessary for long-term viability.
PIA and Shipping Sector Under Strain
The national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), continued its financial turbulence.
In calendar year 2024, PIA’s operating revenue dropped 16.8% to Rs 204.16 billion, while operating expenses shrank 20.8% to Rs 194.8 billion, leading to a modest profit of Rs 9.3 billion.
While cost containment efforts helped turn a profit, the revenue decline signals reduced operations or passenger load—issues that will need structural resolution.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) reported a sharp decline in profitability.
Profits fell to Rs 8.98 billion, down from Rs 14.28 billion during the same period last year, mainly due to a shrinking fleet size.
With only 10 vessels and 724,634 DWT capacity, the reduced operational scale hampers Pakistan’s maritime freight capabilities at a time when regional shipping competition is intensifying.
Ports Show Mixed Results
Performance at Pakistan’s ports varied. Port Qasim Authority saw a 1.6% drop in cargo handling, managing 33.8 million tonnes in July–March FY2025 compared to 34.3 million tonnes last year.
In contrast, Karachi Port handled 40.4 million tonnes, up from 38.9 million tonnes—a modest gain reflecting better port throughput and potentially enhanced terminal operations.
