Pakistan has embarked on a major joint venture with China’s Baotou Beifang Chuanghe Co., Ltd. to manufacture freight wagons locally, a move expected to transform the country’s rail freight capacity and reduce import dependence.
In Lahore, 115 flatbeds are currently being assembled in complete form (CKD), with plans to be completed by April 2025. This assembly is part of a larger order for 620 high-capacity freight wagons, co-produced under the partnership.
Once operational, these wagons will double existing rail transportation capacity, according to Philip Mei, Chinese project manager for the 820 High Capacity Wagon (HCW) project.
In 2021, Beifang Chuangye was awarded a contract to supply 820 freight wagons, including open, flat, covered and cabbage wagons. By 2022, 200 coaches have been delivered and integrated into Pakistan Railways. In 2024, another 115 open wagons, assembled in semi-crushed (SKD) form at Risalpur, were deployed on major shipping routes, alleviating congestion at Karachi Port and enhancing internal connectivity.
Aamir Baloch, CEO of Pakistan Railways, hailed the project as a pivotal step towards economic self-sufficiency and local industrial growth. The project has generated approximately 450 direct jobs and trained a new workforce of technicians and skilled workers, strengthening Pakistan’s manufacturing capabilities.
Standardization of trolley designs ensures cost-effective maintenance and consistent operation. Ishaq Butt, Pakistani project manager, emphasized the importance of this efficiency in meeting the country’s infrastructure needs.
Chinese company Beifang Chuangye has played a crucial role in developing Pakistan’s industrial ecosystem, providing training in employee development, quality control, inventory management, and system implementation. The Lahore and Risalpur facilities have seen significant improvements in equipment and processes as a result of this partnership.
This initiative represents a new era in freight transport in Pakistan, with significant economic and logistical benefits expected to be achieved in the coming years.