Karachi, October 2, 2023 – Major General Farrukh Shahzad Rao, the Director General of the National Logistics Cell (NLC), has announced the NLC’s commitment to strengthening trade relations with Central Asia, Russia, China, and Tashkent. This initiative aims to tap into the growing demand for Pakistani goods in these regions and enhance economic ties.
Major General Farrukh Shahzad Rao shared this vision during his address to industrialists at the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI). The event saw the presence of KATI President Faraz-ur-Rehman, Deputy Patron-in-Chief Zubair Chhaya, Senior Vice President Nighat Awan, Vice President Muslim Mohammadi, Standing Committee Chairman Fawad Sheikh, Former President Sheikh Fazal-e-Jalil, Rashid Ahmed Siddiqui, Syed Farukh Mazher, and other senior officials and members.
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Key points highlighted by Major General Farrukh Shahzad Rao during his address:
NLC’s Role: He emphasized the National Logistics Cell’s position as Pakistan’s largest logistics organization and its significant role in constructing vital communication and road infrastructure.
Trade Facilitation: Major General Farrukh Shahzad Rao expressed NLC’s determination to support businesses in delivering their products to markets in China, Russia, and Tashkent. The NLC is eager to collaborate with KATI manufacturers in this endeavor.
Liaison Appointed: To facilitate this cooperation, he appointed KATI Vice President Muslim Mohammadi as the focal point for communication between the NLC and industrialists.
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Efficient Transportation: Major General Farrukh Shahzad Rao highlighted that currently, only seven companies operate on international routes in Pakistan. Despite this limited number, they are capable of transporting goods from Sialkot to Kazakhstan within 16 days, a journey that used to take over two months.
KATI President Faraz-ur-Rehman welcomed the NLC’s focus on trade promotion. He highlighted historical challenges faced by Pakistani products in accessing Central Asian markets due to a lack of banking channels. These obstacles often led to smuggling of Pakistani products abroad. He expressed optimism that the NLC’s efforts to enable Pakistani products to reach Central Asia, Russia, China, and Tashkent within 14 days would boost exports and increase foreign exchange reserves significantly.
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Faraz-ur-Rehman urged the government to establish banking channels with Russia and other Central Asian countries promptly, enabling exporters to repatriate their earnings. He also acknowledged the NLC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and their potential for developing the Korangi Industrial Area.
Deputy Patron-in-Chief Zubair Chhaya commended the NLC’s advanced technology, logistics, and engineering capabilities, which have positively impacted the Pakistani economy. He expressed enthusiasm for future collaboration and encouraged KATI members to support the NLC’s transition from a national company to an international organization.
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Fawad Sheikh, Chairman of the Standing Committee, emphasized the importance of logistics for a country’s development and encouraged the NLC to extend its services to small and medium-sized industries, benefiting trade and industrialists, especially smaller enterprises.
