National Logistics Corporation
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Logistics Freight transport |
| Founded | July 20, 1978 |
| Headquarters | , Pakistan |
Area served | Pakistan Afghanistan (formerly) |
Key people | Director-General, Maj Gen. Farrukh Shahzad Rao, |
| Services | Logistics, freight forwarding, dry ports, border terminals, engineering, construction, tolling, express freight trains, polymers, and sea freight |
Number of employees | 8,000 |
| Website | www |
The National Logistics Corporation (Urdu: نیشنل لاجسٹکس کارپوریشن), formerly known as the National Logistics Cell, is a Pakistani state-owned logistics company based in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.[1][2] It is considered as the logistics arm of Pakistan Army and operates under its indirect control.[3][4][5]
History
[edit]The National Logistics Corporation was founded following the 1977–1978 wheat crisis in Pakistan, due to insufficient railway capabilities to transport wheat from the Karachi seaport inland.[6] Initially, the Pakistan Army was asked to address the crisis, which ultimately led to the formation of the NLC as an independent entity.[6] In the early stages of the Afghan refugee crisis, the NLC used the Pakistan Army's transport capabilities to provide logistical support to approximately three million Afghan refugees between 1982 and 1989.[6] The NLC is now the leading logistics company in Pakistan, having over 40 years of experience providing a wide range of services. It operates under the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiative (PD&SI).[7]
In the fiscal year 1994-1995, the NLC was allocated approximately Rs 245 million by the Government of Pakistan to invest in stock markets and bonds, aimed at funding vehicle replacements and other infrastructural developments.[6] The government was the sole financer of the NLC's infrastructure development during this period.[6]
By 2004, the NLC had evolved into a major logistics organization, boasting a carriage capacity of 50,000 tons of dry cargo and 9 million liters of fluid cargo, with a fleet of 2,000 vehicles.[6] Its assets were valued at around Rs 5 billion.[6] Since its establishment, NLC had also diversified into the construction industry, undertaking various military and civilian infrastructure projects in Pakistan, including roads and bridges.[3]
In July 2011, the Government of Pakistan allowed the NLC to participate in the bidding process for the acquisition of a state-owned construction company, which was a change from its original charter.[3] The decision was made to refocus the NLC and align its activities with its statutory framework.[3] The NLC sought to acquire international assets owned by the National Power Construction Company.[3]
As of 2011, NLC was responsible for transporting approximately 50 percent of Pakistan's domestic crude oil, amounting to about 76,000 barrels per day.[3]
In 2014, NLC was awarded the contract to construct the Rawalpindi section of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus at 1.04 per cent higher than the estimated cost.[8]
Controversies
[edit]In 2010, a corruption scandal was unearthed that involved two Pakistan Army generals, (Maj Gen Khalid Zaheer Akhtar and Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal), and caused a loss of Rs. 1.8 billion to the company through speculative investments between 2004 and 2008.[9][10] In 2015, both of them were convicted by the military court of Pakistan.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ "Senate of Pakistan". www.senate.gov.pk. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
- ^ Hussain, Ali (5 August 2023). "Senate passes National Logistics Corporation Bill, 2023". Business Recorder. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Rana, Shahbaz (July 22, 2011). "Army's expanding footprint: NLC allowed to bid for state-owned construction firm". The Express Tribune.
- ^ "NLC scandal". DAWN.COM. July 2, 2012.
- ^ "Rs35 billion budget approved for National Logistics Cell". The Express Tribune. August 13, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g Brömmelhörster, Jörn; Paes, Wolf-Christian (2004). The Military as an Economic Actor: Soldiers in Business. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 136. ISBN 9780333999288.
For instance, the National Logistics Cell was established in the wake of the wheat shortage in 1977–8. The lack of adequate railway facilities to bring wheat from the Karachi seaport into the country brought the Army into the picture. Initially, the Army was called upon to help solve the wheat crisis, which finally led it to establish an independent organization, the NLC. The Army's transportation capacity was also solicited during the early days of the Afghanistan crisis. The NLC provided logistical support to 3 million Afghan refugees from 1982–9. In 1994–5, the NLC received about Rs 245 million from the government to invest in stocks and bonds. This was primarily to provide capital investment for the replacement of vehicles and other infrastructure. The government was the sole investor in developing the NLC's infrastructure. What started as a rescue operation was transformed into an organization that by 2004, had a carriage capacity of 50,000 tons of dry cargo and 9 million liters of fluid cargo and a fleet of 2,000 vehicles and its assets were estimated at about Rs 5 billion. The organization also undertaking other activities, including the construction of roads and bridges, spraying of pesticides, locust control and logistical crisis management.
- ^ Mudassir, Muhammad (2024-06-02). "National Logistics Corporation (NLC): Local Roots and Outreach". Paradigm Shift. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
- ^ Yasin, Aamir (March 22, 2014). "PM to inaugurate Metro Bus Project tomorrow". DAWN.COM.
- ^ Newspaper, the (July 2, 2012). "NLC scandal". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on October 29, 2012.
- ^ "Rs4.3b NLC scam: Military probe finds two ex-generals guilty". The Express Tribune. August 5, 2015.
- ^ "Army sentences two former generals in NLC corruption case". DAWN.COM. August 5, 2015.
Minister: Ahsan Iqbal | ||
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