Off late, Pakistan has fared marginally well on World Bank's Logistics Performance Index (LPI) by securing 68th position in 2016 out of 160 countries as against 72nd position in 2014. It is pertinent to mention that World Bank analyses key areas like transport infrastructure, logistics quality and competence, basic infrastructure, border management & customs clearance and tracking & monitoring of consignments. National Logistics Cell (NLC) is the only organization in Pakistan which offers holistic services in all those areas which are considered as yardstick for LPI ranking.
To begin with, NLC has the largest fleet for dry and liquid cargo which has ensured transportation of essential commodities since its inception in 1978. As a progressive outfit, Freight Service NLC has introduced innovative ideas and technologies in the transportation sector of Pakistan. It is credited for introducing containerization in Pakistan.
The elaborate infrastructure, extensive footprint and huge fleet of modern vehicles of renowned make and type coupled with workforce of highly trained and experienced professionals affords NLC with unique distinction to efficiently serve the valued clients by transporting their goods and cargo swiftly and safely to any destination in Pakistan. Freight Service of NLC runs the largest cargo operations in the entire region. This vital business concern has developed a highly sophisticated and systematic transportation mechanism to handle all kinds of cargos. The supply chain professionals are never found short of devising innovative and customized logistics solutions to businessmen and traders.
Freight Service is also the most advanced and specialized handler of sensitive liquid cargo in the country. The fact that the transportation of the nation's over 50% of crude oil production is single-handedly managed by NLC bears testimony to its professional expertise in liquid cargo. For this purpose, its fleet consists of special carriers, designed to transport crude production from oil fields in far-flung areas to the refineries in the urban centers.
NLC's operations are also extended in transportation of furnace oil, palm oil and essential commodities like wheat, sugar, fertilizers and other multiple segments of dry cargo. NLC's fleet is installed with latest computerized tracking and monitoring system enabling it to oversee cargo movement in real time. This enables the organization and the client to know the exact location of the cargo and to forecast its arrival at the required destination.
In infrastructure development, NLC Engineers stand out as a fine example of continued institutional and professional development of the Organization. The decades of expertise and experience in construction sector has turned NLC Engineers into the largest repository of the skilled human resource and state-of-the art technology in today's construction industry.
A trusted brand name with a hands-on experience in execution of mega projects, NLC Engineers prides itself for completing assigned tasks in record time while ensuring highest quality of work. Besides scores of other development projects all across Pakistan, NLC is also busy in construction of a key section of CPEC Western Route.
The unique geography places Pakistan in a position to act as bridge between Central Asia and South Asia thus capable of becoming hub for transit trade and integrate regional economies by maximizing trans border business. To achieve this end, Government tasked NLC in 2005 to establish and operate the Border Terminals with neighbouring countries. NLC has set up Border Terminals at the key entry points of Wagah, Torkham, Jamrud, Chaman, Taftan and Sost having spacious yards for import / export containers, warehousing, scanners and other facilities for custom and security clearance.
More terminals are being constructed at Ghulam Khan in North Waziristan Agency, Kharlachi in Kurrum Agency and Angoor Adda in South Waziristan Agency on fast track basis. The Border Terminals set up by NLC have given a big boost to national exports and promotion of regional land route trade alike.
The trans-border movement of goods amongst countries that are non signatory to the TIR Convention or its contracting parties is hindered by extremely lengthy checks, customs guarantees and security of the transported goods thus hampering economic growth and trade competitiveness. Pakistan after becoming contracting party to the TIR has decided to further upgrade existing facilities at Wahga, Chaman and Torkham Border Terminals with assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB) under Integrated Transit Trade Management System (ITTMS). NLC Engineers has been awarded the project which will not only facilitate trade in transit but enhance coordination among various government agencies.
Recently the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has granted license of Safe Transportation Environment Project (STEP) to NLC for a period of three years under Tracking and Monitoring of Cargo Rules 2012. Under the project NLC will track and monitor different types of cargoes covering transit cargo, export of petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) products to Afghanistan and transhipment cargo by providing GSM / GPRS / Satellite Communication for monitoring and tracking, on a real time basis.
NLC will provide the services including monitoring and tracking of vehicles and containers carrying the cargo from Customs port of entry to Customs port of exit on a real time basis; maintain en-route integrity of cargo by preventing pilferage or theft or losses; access to relevant information through Web-Portal to all stakeholders as allowed under these FBR rules or by the Customs; flexible solution to cater for any future requirements of tracking under multi-modal and inter-modal transportation environment, monitoring timely deliveries and reporting on transport efficiencies etc.
In view of anticipated rise in volume of heavy vehicular traffic in wake of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), National Logistics Cell (NLC) has planned to establish rest areas of international standard astride National Highways and CPEC routes with integrated facilities for commuters in general and truckers in particular. The initiative has been undertaken by NLC in line with recommendations of National Trucking Policy which provides for setting up multipurpose parking and resting facilities for drivers at major locations astride National Highways. The Project has been named as NLC Drivers Emergency and Rest Areas (DERA). Under phase one of DERA project, eight Rest Areas are being set up at various locations on N - 5 from Gujranwala to Karachi which will be subsequently increased and extended to other highways including CPEC routes.
The concept of DERA is a major step towards ensuring high standard of safety by attending to the drivers fatigue caused by long haul journey, help regulate traffic density in major cities and reduce accidents caused by disorganized parking on main Highways. DERA will have integrated facilities like fuel stations, eateries, warehouses, mart, workshops, ambulance & first aid facility, round the clock repair & recovery of both light & heavy vehicles, mosque, vehicle wash / service area, hotel / guest rooms, telephone & internet, video surveillance.
NLC is currently engaged in hectic negotiations with leading European truck manufacturing companies to devise modalities for setting up assembly plants under joint venture arrangements which will give huge fillip to the trucking sector in Pakistan. The proposed brand is known for their cutting edge technologies, fuel efficiency and high quality of products, suited for all kinds of climatic conditions. The plant will produce prime movers at competitive price with existing brands in the market.
NLC runs Applied Technologies Institutes (ATINs) at Mandra and Dina in Punjab, Khairpur Mirs in Sindh, Amangarh in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit in GB. Apart from providing diploma courses in various disciplines of civil engineering, students are also offered heavy vehicle driving courses.
Being the premier logistics organization, NLC is ideally placed to act as link between the public and private sector in the larger national interests of development of logistics sector of Pakistan. In this regard NLC recently organized CPEC Logistics International Forum (CLIF) and brought representatives of leading Sino Pak logistics companies under one roof to evaluate challenges being faced by the sector and devise ways and means for actualization of the game changer project.
National Logistics Cell is fully committed to improve Pakistan's logistics sector and its ranking in LPI by proactively contributing to the key indicators i,e logistics quality and competence infrastructure development, improved facilities at border terminals and tracking and monitoring.