National Logistics Corporation
| File:NLC Pakistan logo.jpeg | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Logistics Freight System |
| Founded | July 20, 1978 |
| Headquarters | , Pakistan |
Area served | Pakistan Central Asian States |
| 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] . NLC works under the ambit of Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiative (PD& SI) & functions through National Logistics Board.[1]
The NLC is a state-owned enterprise that provides transport and logistics services and has been facilitating the export of Pakistani products including perishable items such as bananas, meat and seafood to Central Asian states and China.[2]
As of 2011, NLC was responsible for transporting approximately 50 percent of Pakistan's imported crude oil, amounting to about 76,000 barrels per day.[3]
History
National Logistics Cell was founded by the Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq government to supply military equipment to Mujahideen fighting the Soviet Union.[6] Later, it was given the freight business of Pakistan Railways by the regime.[7][8] 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 imported crude oil, amounting to about 76,000 barrels per day.[3]
In 2014, NLC was awarded the contract to contruct the Rawalpindi section of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus at 1.04 per cent higher than the estimated cost.[9]
Controversies
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.[10][11] In 2015, both of them were convicted by the military court of Pakistan.[12]
References
- ^ "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 g Rana, Shahbaz (July 22, 2011). "Army's expanding footprint: NLC allowed to bid for state-owned construction firm". The Express Tribune.
- ^ Newspaper, From the (July 2, 2012). "NLC scandal". DAWN.COM.
- ^ "Rs35 billion budget approved for National Logistics Cell". The Express Tribune. August 13, 2012.
- ^ "Pakistanis Question Perks of Power". Washington Post.
- ^ "Railways and the NLC". The Express Tribune. October 16, 2014.
- ^ Walsh, Declan (May 19, 2013). "After Decades of Neglect, Pakistan Rusts in Its Tracks" – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ 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.