Govt considers railway livestock corridor plan linking Karachi to Okara-Sahiwal

The federal government is reviewing a proposal to establish a dedicated railway livestock corridor aimed at improving logistics, stabilising food supply and supporting export markets, The News reported. 

The initiative gained momentum after the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR) conveyed its support to the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in a letter, endorsing a pilot project involving once-a-week dedicated railway wagons from Karachi to Okara and Sahiwal.

The proposal, currently under review by the Prime Minister’s Office and the SIFC Secretariat, focuses on transporting male calves and dry animals through a rail-based system to improve utilisation of livestock resources and strengthen the meat and dairy value chain.

The move follows concerns raised by the Dairy & Cattle Farmers Association (DCFA), which highlighted weaknesses in the current logistics system and warned that the livestock sector is facing operational challenges due to transport constraints.

Officials said road transport, particularly through parts of rural Sindh, has become increasingly unreliable, with reports of more than 20 livestock-laden trucks being seized each month. Farmers are often required to pay extortion to recover their animals, disrupting supply chains and increasing operational costs.

The lack of a secure transport network has also led to the slaughter of productive animals in Karachi and Hyderabad, affecting livestock availability and contributing to higher prices of milk and meat.

As part of the proposal, the government plans to restore the Juma Goth Junction near Karachi Cattle Colony, which previously served as a key logistics hub until the 1990s. The rail corridor is expected to provide a secure alternative to road transport and support the movement of livestock across regions.

The plan also includes introducing a “green tariff” to provide subsidised transport and attaching specialised livestock wagons to passenger trains to enable regular movement of animals.

Officials said the corridor could support export supply chains, particularly following recent meat export agreements with China and Gulf countries, which require consistent and secure logistics.

In addition, the project is linked to an Asian Development Bank-supported initiative to produce 8,000 tonnes of organic bio-fertiliser daily in Karachi, with the railway corridor facilitating its transport to agricultural areas.

The proposal is being assessed as part of broader efforts to improve supply chains, reduce losses in the livestock sector and support domestic and export markets.