Transportation and communication sector of Pakistan, importance of transport and communication like economic, political and social, transport in Pakistan like roads,water , railway,air, communication,postal service,radio, television, telecommunication and information technology.

1. Present by: Sumiyyah Abdul Aziz
BS(Economics)
Transportation and Communication Sector in Pakistan
The University Of Haripur

2. Table of Content
Transportation and Communication sector in Pakistan
Importance of Transport and Communication:
1. Economic importance
2. Political importance
3. Social importance
Transport in Pakistan
1. Roads
2. Railways
3. Air
4. water
Communication
1. Postal Service
2. Radio
3. Television
4. Telecommunication
5. Information Technology(IT)

3. Transportation and Communication sector in Pakistan
Transportation and Communication sector in Pakistan The transport and communication are of basic
importance in the development process of a country, and density of the transport network is an index to
economic development. As compared with developed countries, Pakistan possesses a less developed
transportation network. Government is making serious efforts to develop an efficient transport and
communication network to meet the growing needs of the country.

4. Importance of Transport and Communication:
1. Economic importance: It promotes the internal and external trade, utilization of natural resources,
mobility of labor, reduction in unemployment, increase in agricultural production, reduction in
population pressure and elimination of starvation and hunger etc.
2. Political importance: It creates the political awareness in people, maintenance of law and order in
society etc. It also helps bringing out the opinion of the masses.
3. Social importance :Linkage of people develops brotherhood and sense of unity, and this can stimulate
economic activity within the country. It promotes the education across the country and provides the
modern information by TV, Internet, radio etc.

5. Transport in Pakistan
1. Road
Road transport is most popular and it carries about 90% of the total passenger traffic. The country has about
248,340 kilometers of roads, of which more than 50 percent are paved. The rest are graveled or unimproved tracks.
Road traffic is increasing to nearly overwhelming proportions, with mixtures of animal carts, high-speed cars, buses,
and trucks. The principal roads of Pakistan are GT (Grand Trunk) Road, Super Indus Highway (N-55), Karakoram
Highway (N-35), Makran Coastal Highway (N-10) and Motorway Projects (M1, M2, M3, M8, M9).
2. Railways
Pakistan's railways cover roughly 7,791 kilometers. Most are in the Indus Valley, from Karachi to the Punjab, with a
few lines into the North-West Frontier and one westward across northern Baluchistan to the Iranian border.
3. Air
Pakistan is served by numerous international airlines as well as its own Pakistan International Airlines, which
provides both international and domestic service. International airports are located at Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar,
Quetta, and Lahore. Prior to the early 1990s the domestic airline industry was regulated by the state. After
deregulation, several privately owned airlines began to operate in Pakistan. PIA has made remarkable progress. It
began with a fleet of 15 aircraft. By 1999-2000, it had 45 aircraft. Today, there are three private airlines operating in
the country____ Shaheen, Air Blue and Aero Asia.
4. Water
Ocean shipping is extensive through Karachi, on the coast of the Arabian Sea. The city's port handles more than 95
percent of all of Pakistan's imports and exports. The city of Qasim also has a port to handle a share of the country's
trade. And government is also establishing new port, Gawadar port.

6. Communication
Communication plays an important role in the economic and cultural development of a country. Pakistan has
following means of communication.
1. Postal Service
The Post office is a Federal Government entity which provides postal facilities through a network of 12828 (2178
urban and 10650 rural) post offices across the country. The department is providing various traditional postal
services to the consumers at a reasonable price. It also provides the facility of life insurance, payment of military
pensions, collection of motor vehicle tax, renewal of arms and driving licenses etc.
2. Radio
Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) has played a pivotal role in promoting national interest by
providing information, entertainment and education to audiences at home and abroad in 35 languages (19
regional, 1 sub regional, 16 foreign) from 24 Radio Stations and 5 FM Stations.

7. 3. Television
First television station was introduced in Pakistan by a private television company, in November 26,
1964. In June 1967, it was converted into private limited company named as Pakistan Television
Corporation Limited, with prime objectives to establish a Television Network in Pakistan for the
provision of broadcasting news, documentaries, education and entertainment. There are two channels
in the country namely PTV Home and PTV News. There are also operating 22 private TV channels
across the country.
4. Telecommunication
The Telegraph and Telephone department was converted into Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation
on 15th December 1990 for better telecommunication system in the country. On 1st January 1996, the
corporation was recognized by establishing the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the
National Telecommunication Operation (NTC) and Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited
(PTCL). PTCL has issued 60,000 telephone connections to its customers. 6 Mobile companies are
operating their network in Pakistan under PTA. There are at least six core people are using mobile
phone in Pakistan.

8. 5. Information Technology (IT)
IT has assumed unprecedented importance in the global economy. Government has accorded a very
high priority to this sector. IT is one of the key determinants of competitiveness and growth of
economy. For promotion of IT, above than 400 cities have been provided internet facility. Pakistan
has established Software Technology Park at Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar. Currently, in 2006-07
Pakistan has earned 50 million dollars from software industry. The Ministry of Science and
Technology has approved different projects which will be implemented in the next few years.
Pakistan enjoys good international telecommunications links via satellite. The availability of
domestic telephone service improved in the 1990s as the utility was privatized. Cellular telephone
service and Internet connections are available though not widespread. Radio and television are
controlled largely by the government.