Comprehensive Notes on Global and Pakistani Transportation Systems of Transport in Pakistan

Evolution and History of Transport

• Pre-Modern: Humanity relied on walking for most of history; the wheel was invented approximately 5500 years ago, and horses were domesticated around 3500 years ago.
• Technological Shifts: The invention of the steam engine in the mid-1700s led to steam-powered ships and trains. Motor vehicles emerged in the 1800s, followed by aeroplanes in the early 1900s.
• Modern Era: Satellites and spacecraft enable global information exchange and space exploration. Transport innovations have facilitated globalization but also changed the nature of warfare and colonization.

Movement of People: Tourism, Migration, and Work

• Tourism: International tourist numbers rose from $25\,million$ in 1950 to $1113\,million$ in 2014 due to faster and cheaper air travel.
• Migration: Mass voluntary international migration began in the late 1800s; modern transport allows journeys to be completed in hours.
• Work: Labor migration is a major driver; the International Organisation for Migration projected $86\,million$ people would work outside their birth country in 2021.
• Commuting: Defined as recurring travel between residence and place of work or study.

Movement of Goods and Global Trade

• Maritime Transport: Ships carry the bulk of world goods due to high volume capacity and lower fuel costs. Refrigerated containers now allow perishable goods to travel for weeks.
• Air Transport: Favored for speed and urgent deliveries (e.g., fresh seafood), but carries less than $1\%$ of global trade volume due to higher costs.
• Land Trade: Dominated by road and rail for domestic and cross-border trade, historically exemplified by the ancient Silk Route.

Information Technology in Transport

• GPS: Global Positioning System uses space-based satellites to guide pilots, captains, and drivers.
• Infrastructural Tech: Smart technology synchronizes traffic lights and manages airport traffic. Online booking and shopping have further integrated IT with physical transport.

Global Air and Sea Routes

• Air Routes: The Transatlantic flight connects Europe/Africa to the Americas. Busiest domestic routes include Seoul-Jeju and Sapporo-Tokyo.
• Busiest Seaports: All five top container ports are in Asia: Shanghai (China), Singapore, Shenzhen (China), Hong Kong (China), and Ningbo-Zhoushan (China).
• Strategic Passages: Essential shortcuts include the Panama Canal, Suez Canal, Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, Strait of Magellan, and Strait of Dover.

Transport Infrastructure in Pakistan

• Road Network: Includes the Indus Highway ($1264\,km$), Karakoram Highway ($1300\,km$), and Makran Coastal Highway ($653\,km$). The Grand Trunk Road connects Peshawar to Lahore.
• Railways: Established in 1861 AD; the network is $8163\,km$ long with a Locomotive Factory in Risalpur established in 1993 AD.
• Airports: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was nationalised in 1955. Busiest hubs are Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar.
• Seaports: Three main ports handle over $95\%$ of trade: Karachi Port (handles over $60\%$ of total trade), Port Qasim, and Gwadar Port.

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

• Scale: A $\text{US}\$46\,billion$ infrastructure project expected to create 700,000 jobs by 2030.
• Connectivity: Links Gwadar Port to Xinjiang, China. Key projects include an $1100\,km$ motorway between Karachi and Lahore.
• Strategic Value: Connects remote regions into "one belt, one road" and provides China with quicker access to Middle Eastern and African markets.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Pakistan's Transport

• Strengths: Unique geo-strategic location providing transit for land-locked Central Asian countries; diversifying airline competition (e.g., Air Blue, AirSial).
• Weaknesses: Insufficient federal budget allocations for road maintenance; lack of a holistic National Transportation Policy; urban traffic congestion and environmental pollution.

Questions & Discussion

• Q: Explain the strengths and weaknesses of the transport infrastructure in Pakistan. Response: Strengths involve the strategic geo-location and the expansion of motorways via CPEC. Weaknesses center on poor quality of maintenance and insufficient funding from the Public Sector Development Program.
• Q: Inquire the role of CPEC, Silk route, Chaman, Torkham, Port Qasim, Karachi Port, and Gwadar Port in economic development. Response: These comprise the backbone of Pakistan's trade; Karachi Port handles majority volume ($60\%$), while Border crossings like Chaman and Torkham facilitate trade in fruits, vegetables, and construction materials with Afghanistan.